End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller released the following statement on Governor Bullock’s announcement that he will sign an executive order requiring government contractors to disclose political spending in Montana.
“Governor Steve Bullock is taking action to ensure Montana remains a national leader on
transparency and accountability in its elections. Like Montanans and Americans across the
country, Bullock recognizes that voters have a right to know who is trying to influence their
vote. His bold executive order represents a significant step toward rooting out corruption,
limiting secret “dark” money, and preventing undue influence and outsized access by
mega-donors and corporate special interests in state government.
“This order should serve as a model for Washington, where politicians have rigged the
system to favor big donors, oppose any reforms, and actively seek to bring more money and less transparency into the system.”
Under his executive order, government contractors who have contributed over $2,500 in the past two years will be required to disclose their donations. The order also covers contributions to so-called “dark money” groups that are otherwise not required to disclose their donors. The executive order applies to new contracts for goods over $50,000 and new services contracts over $25,000.
Montana has a proud tradition of supporting good government and clean, transparent elections. In 1912, the state passed the Corrupt Practices Act in response to the flood of corporate money from copper barrons, who were buying off politicians. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Montana’s century-old law in the wake of the 2010 Citizens United decision, despite a Montana Supreme Court decision upholding it.
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