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HELENA (AP) — Montana senators endorsed a measure Thursday that would require more disclosure surrounding campaign donations.
Republican Sen. Duane Ankney's Senate Bill 289, which is backed by Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock, would require corporations, political committees, unions and individuals to report monetary and in-kind contributions that pay for advertisements, communications and other activities for or against political candidates and issues. The proposal also would require that the attribution "paid for by" be included on political ads in the state.
The Senate endorsed the measure 28-22 on second reading. It would need to pass a third reading before going to the House for consideration.
"This bill isn't Armageddon," Ankney said. "Basically what it does is it says if you're going to contribute to a campaign, you're going to report."
The measure comes five years after the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United decision that freed corporations and labor unions to spend as much as they want in elections. Since the ruling, anonymous money has poured into elections, Bullock's chief legal counsel has said.
The measure would also give the governor-appointed commissioner of political practices the discretion to implement other rules "to fully disclose the disposition of funds used to support or oppose candidates or issues." It's the commissioner's job to oversee the enforcement of campaign-finance laws.
But opposing lawmakers said that would give the commissioner too much power. "This gives a lot of leeway for the commissioner to decide on things that should be decided by this body," said Republican Sen. Dee Brown of Hungry Horse.
Details in Havre Daily News on Friday.
Hi-Line delegation: Sen. Kris Hansen, R-Havre, voted no. Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D.Box Elder, voted yes.
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