BILLINGS — A bipartisan coalition, including former Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, advocates for a ballot initiative to ban corporate spending in Montana elections.
Other proponents are Jeff Mangan, ex-commissioner of political practices; former Republican Gov. Marc Racicot; and ex-independent congressional candidate Gary Buchanan. Speaking to about 800 attendees at the Lincoln Center, Mangan emphasized that they traveled “on their own dime” to discuss the initiative.
Named The Montana Plan, the campaign seeks to capitalize on public support for the ban. However, organizers acknowledge the challenge of getting it on the November ballot due to time constraints. Hosted by Yellowstone Indivisible, the event aimed to gather support.
Initial efforts faced obstacles when the Montana Supreme Court found the proposed initiative too complex for a single measure. Mangan quickly refiled new language, now under review by the Legislative Services Division. Reviews by the Attorney General’s office and governor’s budget director are pending.
The timing of these reviews will determine the time petitioners have—possibly as little as two weeks—to collect 60,000 signatures from 40 legislative districts for ballot qualification. Mangan emphasized that the goal is to restore the pre-2010 system, nullified by the U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
Tester highlighted the changes in candidate-voter dynamics due to political spending. “You might ask yourself, ‘Well why does money in politics keep people from having town hall meetings?” he said, noting that with enough funds, candidates can control their message through ads and avoid difficult questions.
The Montana Plan aims to ban corporate entities from influencing elections. Initially a constitutional initiative, it now also exists as a statutory initiative, which changes laws rather than the Constitution and requires fewer signatures.
Supporters view the plan as a response to the Citizens United ruling, which allowed unlimited corporate electoral spending. Buchanan predicts some business support, despite expected opposition from larger corporations.
Mangan cited major political spenders like cryptocurrency and energy sectors, countering arguments that the initiative would harm small businesses. “That’s poppycock,” he asserted, recalling Montana’s 1912 corporate spending ban.
The Montana Plan has drawn national interest, inspiring similar legislative efforts in New York and beyond. Racicot praised Mangan’s initiative, suggesting it could set a precedent for other states.
—
Read More Montana News
