Montana Anti-Citizens United Bill Is A Form Of Soft Secession
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
Montana is preparing a 2026 ballot initiative that would overturn the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United by revoking the charters of corporations that spend money on politics, effectively treating them as “artificial persons” without free‑speech rights. A poll by Issue One shows 74 percent of Montanans, including majorities of Republicans and Independents, back the measure. The proposal is championed by the Transparent Election Initiative and has backing from former Republican governor Marc Racicot and former senator John Tester, while the current governor and business groups warn it will be struck down by the Supreme Court. Legal scholars note the effort resembles “soft secession” or uncooperative federalism, invoking historic state resistance to federal mandates such as the pre‑Civil‑War personal liberty laws.
💡 Why It Matters
- · If passed, Montana’s initiative could create a template for states to directly curb corporate political spending, challenging the national legal framework established by Citizens United.