Appeals Court Says Montana's Campaign Limits are Legal

[riversedge]

1. 'adequate evidence of attempts to purchase legislative action with campaign contributions."

Best truthful phasing yet.



The Office of the Commissioner of Political Practices put the new limits into effect Monday, said spokesman Noah Horan. It would affect candidates running in local elections, but anyone who had received a campaign donation under the old limits would not have to return it.

Two members of the three-judge panel that heard Montana’s appeal said the state presented adequate evidence of attempts to purchase legislative action with campaign contributions. Judge Carlos Bea dissented, arguing there was no proof Montana lawmakers acted on those attempts.

The majority said the state wasn’t required to prove actual corruption.

Judges Raymond Fisher and Mary Murguia said Montana’s limits “target those contributions most likely to result in actual or perceived quid pro quo corruption — high-end, direct contributions with a significant impact on candidate fundraising.”


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