Montana's Corporate Campaign Money Ban, Initiative 194, Faces Lawsuit
HELENA, Mont. — It was disclosed on November 6 that Montana's Initiative 194, the 'Montana Plan' approved by voters on November 3, was challenged in court on Election Day itself.
The Institute for Free Speech, a Washington-based nonprofit, filed suit arguing that the measure violates the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United ruling. The initiative holds that only individuals may spend money in Montana elections and that corporations and other organizations may not spend to influence them. The legislature must now codify the measure into law, and opponents may still seek to weaken it.
Todd O'Hair, president of the Montana Chamber of Commerce, voiced opposition to the initiative, arguing that it restricts businesses' legitimate right to speak out.
Source: Montana Public Radio
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 蒙大拿州议会大厦，海伦娜（Wikimedia Commons，CC BY 2.0）
