Conservative groups challenge Montana ethics chief

Conservative groups challenge Mont. ethics chief

MATT GOURAS,Associated Press

HELENA (AP) — Conservative groups have renewed their assault on Montana campaign finance rules with a new lawsuit and allegations of "frivolous investigations."

The lawsuit comes as the organization that challenged the state campaign finance law's constitutionality resumed sending attack political mailers.

Western Tradition Partnership is sending the mailers in apparent defiance of a finding last week by the state's political practices chief that the organization has been illegally hiding its work to influence elections.

WTP lauded a tea party group, Montana Shrugged, for filing a federal lawsuit this week challenging the authority of the state of Montana to force disclosure of spending.

Attorney General Steve Bullock says the lawsuit is part of coordinated attack by national political activists.

HELENA (AP) — Conservative groups have renewed their assault on Montana campaign finance rules with a new lawsuit and allegations of "frivolous investigations."

The lawsuit comes as the organization that challenged the state campaign finance law's constitutionality resumed sending attack political mailers.

Western Tradition Partnership is sending the mailers in apparent defiance of a finding last week by the state's political practices chief that the organization has been illegally hiding its work to influence elections.

WTP lauded a tea party group, Montana Shrugged, for filing a federal lawsuit this week challenging the authority of the state of Montana to force disclosure of spending.

Attorney General Steve Bullock says the lawsuit is part of coordinated attack by national political activists.