Montana Supreme Court allows anti-Citizens United referendum on Nov. ballot

Source: Missoulian

In separate rulings Friday, the Montana Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling to strike a tax rebate referendum from the November ballot, but rejected an attempt to remove a campaign finance initiative.

... On the ballot: Initiative 166, a nonbinding policy statement that would direct the state’s congressional delegation to support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to say that corporations aren’t people and money isn’t speech.

... As for I-166, the court decided, in a 6-1 vote, to allow it to remain on the ballot. McGrath, Cotter, Rice, Wheat, Morris and Baker were in the majority, while Nelson dissented.

... The court majority said the attorney general’s review is limited by law to determining whether the petition complies with statutory and constitutional requirements “governing submission of the proposed issue to the electors” but doesn’t include consideration of the “substantive legality of the issue, if approved by the voters.”

Read more: http://missoulian.com/news/local/montana-supreme-court-removes-tax-rebate-referendum-allows-corporate-personhood/article_3eca6b28-e32e-11e1-8f53-0019bb2963f4.html