HELENA — Campaign finance watchdogs were waiting on pins and needles this week in anticipation of the final text of a massive bill to fund the federal government. That’s because earlier drafts of House and Senate appropriations bills contained a series of so-called “poison pill” riders that critics said would have reshaped campaign finance laws. (more…) Continue Reading →
Citizens United
Recent Posts
Panelists warn of dark money influence on state politics
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If Montanans don’t “own” their representatives in Congress and the state Legislature, someone else will, a University of Montana law professor and dark money opponent said Monday night. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Montana, News, Anthony Johnstone, Citizens United, Dark Money, Gene Jarussi, University of Montana
Montana Viewpoint: Ideology versus reality
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The struggle in American government today is one between hypothetical ideology and stark reality. The ideology lives in our national and state capitols and the reality is borne by the Americans our governments are supposed to serve. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Opinion, Citizens United, Congress, health care, lobbyists
Montana Viewpoint: It’s time to ‘un-rig’ the system
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If we are to judge from the supporters of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders it would appear that if there is anything that the American public agrees on is that the system—political and economic—is rigged against the little guy. And I agree. If there is anything to be learned from the recent history of corporate greed and the economic harm suffered by Americans because of that greed, whether from jobs lost through trade agreements or homes lost through mortgage fraud, it is that corporate America has the interests of corporate America at heart, and none other. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Opinion, Citizens United, Supreme Court, Wall Street
Montana Ethic Project: ‘Citizens United’ and fair elections
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This is the eighth chapter of the 32-part video series “The Montana Ethic Project.” This chapter features Montana Gov. Steve Bullock speaking on “Citizens United v. Montana.” When the interview was taped in 2011, Bullock was the Montana attorney general. In that role, Bullock challenged the U.S. Supreme Court’s “Citizens United” decision by defending Montana’s 100-year-old ban on corporate campaign expenditure. The court ruled against Montana in a 5-4 vote. You can watch the whole video below. Here is how it begins:
“Often we don’t think that a U.S. Supreme Court case can have an impact in our daily lives or political life. But there was one that was decided, just early 2010, that I think really can. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Montana, Citizens United, Steve Bullock. U.S. Supreme Court, William Clark
Opinion: Power to the people? It will take some work
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“The people,” said a farmer’s wife in a Minnesota country store while
her husband was buying a new post-hole digger,
“The people,” she went on, “will stick around a long time. “The people run the works, only they don’t know it yet — you wait and see.”
— Carl Sandburg in “The People, Yes” (1936) —
The people running things. Powerful thought. But, is it just a nice sentiment or could it be a reality? Is it a genuine possibility, or just rhetorical candy for the masses, distracting them from the harsh reality that money rules the roost in America? Continue Reading →
Filed under: Opinion, Carl Sandburg, Citizens United, Evan Barrett, Great Depression, Supreme Court
David Crisp: Mending government starts here
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Ten years after he was elected to the U.S. Senate, Jon Tester, D-Mont., still continues to farm near his home in Big Sandy. It isn’t about the money. “One of the reasons I still farm is because I go home and can get things done,” Tester said during a telephone town hall last week. In Washington, D.C., not so much. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Opinion, Affordable Care Act, Citizens United, Jon Tester, U.S. Senate, U.S. Supreme Court
‘Dark money’ discussion, thankfully, includes solutions
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Three experts on the role of money in politics painted a dire picture of American democracy at a forum in Billings Thursday night. But they also offered up some fairly simple solutions to the problems posed by “dark money”—the kind that now flows by the tens of millions from anonymous sources to influence politicians and shape public policy. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Montana, Alan Simpson, Anthony Johnstone, Billings Public Library, Citizens United, Edwin Bender, Federal Election Commission, Royal Johnson
No turning back on marriage equality
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Just three months ago, the Billings City Council voted down a nondiscrimination ordinance that would have expanded civil rights protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The vote came at 3 a.m., following a very long meeting. Later that day, Councilman Brent Cromley, who supported the NDO, said the setback would not halt the steady progress being made on LGBT rights. (more…) Continue Reading →
