The Missoulian

Charles S. Johnson

February 15, 2012

HELENA – The state attorney general’s office has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to leave in place Montana’s century-old ban on independent campaign spending by corporations while the court decides whether to hear an appeal by the groups challenging it.

Attorney General Steve Bullock’s office filed its opposition Wednesday with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who oversees cases in the federal court district that includes Montana.

Bullock was responding to an attempt by American Tradition Partnership, Champion Painting and Montana Shooting Sports Association to block enforcement of the voter-passed 1912 Montana law while they ask the U.S. Supreme Court to accept an appeal of a decision by the state Supreme Court.

“The applicants’ request to this court should be understood for what it is: they ask this court to invalidate Montana’s Corrupt Practices Act – an act that has safeguarded the republican form of government in Montana for a century from the scourge of political corruption – without a record, briefing or argument,” said the legal document filed by Bullock, Assistant Attorney General James Molloy and Special Assistant Attorney General Anthony Johnstone.

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