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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Court Rejects Montana Election Law

In a reaffirmation of its controversial Citizens United decision on campaign finances, the US Supreme Court on Monday struck down as unconstitutional a 100-year old Montana law that banned corporations from spending money to influence state elections. The high court voted 5 to 4 to summarily reverse a December 2011 decision by the Montana Supreme Court upholding the state’s Corrupt Practices Act of 1912. The 1912 ban on corporate money in elections was passed to prevent a return of the widespread corruption of the “Copper Kings,” when wealthy and powerful mining interests in Montana routinely bought judges, controlled newspapers, and bribed lawmakers. The majority justices dismissed the Montana high court’s decision in a two-paragraph opinion/Christian Science Monitor. More here. (AP file photo of Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock)

Question: Do you agree with the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down Montana's Corrupt Practices Act banning corporate money in elections?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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