CI-132

The Montana Republican Party (MTGOP) Executive Board passed a resolution last week formally opposing Constitutional Initiative 132 (CI-132), which seeks to cement a progressive judiciary in the state by preventing judicial candidates from informing the public of their political affiliation.

So-called “nonpartisan” judicial elections do not remove politics from the judicial process. Rather, they serve only to obscure politics, leaving ordinary voters in the dark under the false pretense of neutrality and nonpartisanship.

The partisan nature of CI-132 itself is made evident by the coalition of Democrat-aligned organizations bankrolling the effort, including Catalyst Montana, Forward Montana, Fireweed Campaigns, the Montana Federation of Public Employees, Big Sky 55+, and the ACLU of Montana. These groups are funded by a network of out-of-state, far-left, billionaire donors – the same Democrat network which has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on Montana Supreme Court races.

“The MTGOP believes Montana should retain judicial elections, but reform them to be free, fair, and honest by allowing candidates to run with a political designation if they so choose, in keeping with their basic First Amendment rights, as well as giving voters the knowledge they need to make an informed decision,” the resolution said.

Montanans should not be fooled by signature gatherers and other proponents of CI-132 who falsely claim the measure will keep politics out of the courts. They should also ensure that paid signature gatherers are in compliance with new state laws requiring that they disclose their first name, state of residence, and status as a paid operative.

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CI-194

The Montana Republican Party (MTGOP) Executive Board passed a resolution on Tuesday formally opposing Initiative 194 (I-194), also known as “The Montana Plan.” I-194 would clearly and egregiously strip Montana’s small, family-owned businesses, organizations, and associations of their constitutional First Amendment speech rights, all while privileging out-of-state billionaires with unrestricted spending in Montana’s elections.

According to publicly available records, the Transparent Election Initiative, the group behind The Montana Plan, has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to promote I-194 and hire out-of- state signature gatherers – all while intentionally obscuring its donors. The organization that claims it is against dark money in politics is itself funded by dark money dollars. The irony is hard to miss.

This is yet another attempt by the Democrats to protect a dying party and its failed policies. The Montana Plan has been publicly endorsed by the likes of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Pete Buttigieg, Montana Democrat candidate Sam Forstag, and former Senator Jon Tester.

The MTGOP believes in the basic First Amendment rights the U.S. Constitution guarantees its citizens. We also believe that as the size and scope of government increase, citizens need more speech, not less, to understand their government and hold it accountable.

In our state, Montanans’ voices matter more than those of wealthy out-of-staters. Montanans should not be fooled by out-of-state signature gatherers and other proponents of I-194 who falsely claim that it targets corruption or money in politics. In truth, it would silence the voices of Montana’s businesses and organizations while amplifying those of wealthy outsiders, thereby undermining self-government itself in Montana. Montanans should also ensure that paid signature gatherers are in compliance with new state laws requiring that they disclose their first name, state of residence, and status as a paid operative.