Montana voters pass ballot initiative banning corporate campaign cash
The gist
Montana voters passed Constitutional Initiative 194 barring corporate cash from political campaigns with over 65% support.
The measure tests whether states can curb corporate election spending despite Citizens United.
How it unfolded
- 1912Montanans passed the Corrupt Practices Act by initiative with 76% of the vote, banning corporations from spending money to influence elections, after the influence of the Copper Kings.
- 2010The Supreme Court decided Citizens United v. FEC, holding corporations have a First Amendment right to spend money to influence elections.
- 2012The Supreme Court struck down Montana's Corrupt Practices Act restriction in American Tradition Partnership v. Bullock, ruling it conflicted with Citizens United.