Governor backs initiative opposing corporate money

HELENA — Gov. Brian Schweitzer is backing an initiative that aims to undermine a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision granting constitutional political speech protections to corporations.

Schweitzer signed onto the initiative that could appear on the November ballot if backers gather enough support.

The proposed initiative would state that Montana policy is that "corporations are not entitled to constitutional rights because they are not human beings." Supporters say the initiative would send a message to the congressional delegation to back an amendment to the U.S. Constitution clarifying that corporations don't get its protections.

Montana has been at the forefront of the issue.

The U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year struck down the state's ban on corporate third-party spending in elections, citing their high-profile Citizens United decision from 2010.