Montana Initiative 194 Sued in Federal Court Within Two Days of Passage as Republicans Call Corporate Political-Spending Ban Unconstitutional
Less than 48 hours after Montana voters approved Initiative 194, the “Montana Plan,” with about 65% support on Nov. 3, the law was challenged in federal court.
The plaintiffs include the Montana Republican Party, the Frontier Institute, the Frontier Action Fund and the Montana Family Foundation. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, names Attorney General Austin Knudsen and Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen as defendants.
Initiative 194 provides that corporations, nonprofits, trade associations and other “artificial persons” may not use general funds to influence candidate elections, political parties or ballot measures. Supporters describe it as a response to the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision. Reported results showed 302,179 votes in favor and 159,491 against.
The plaintiffs argue the measure restricts political speech by businesses and organizations in violation of the First Amendment. The measure is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, unless a court blocks it.
OpenSecrets, the campaign-finance watchdog, noted that voters in both Montana and Michigan approved measures this week limiting political money, that both measures now face federal lawsuits, and that the disputes could ultimately reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Source: U.S. District Court for the District of Montana
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：蒙大拿州议会大厦。CC BY 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The Montana State Capitol in Helena. CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
