In response to the recent article concerning Rep. Frank Garner’s stand against Dark Money, I wish to congratulate him for having the courage of his convictions.
Montanans need to know that there is a concerted effort to buy their government. Unnamed contributors donating unlimited amounts of money leads one to believe that influence peddling is involved. Is money coming from out of state interests?
Corporations or organizations attempting to gain influence for their own vested interests or agendas? This begs the question: (Which) Americans for (whose) Prosperity?
Unfortunately, due to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision and the scrapping of Montana’s century old campaign finance laws, the result of a lawsuit brought by American Tradition Partnership (ATP), we may never know.
The rise of 501(c)4 tax exempt operations, ATP and a huge proliferation of others on both sides of the political spectrum, has led to unconscionable amounts of money being spent attempting to influence voters and elections in Montana, possibly in violation of IRS tax exempt rules. Specifically the prohibition of “Express Advocacy,” which states: 501(c)4 tax exempt organizations may NOT spend money “… attempting to influence the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of any person to any Federal, state, or local public office or to an office in a political organization.” (Pg. 4 Part II of IRS Form 1024 Line 15)
Sadly, these Dark Money groups use the 501(c)4 designation as a selling point for gathering contributions by promising secrecy for their donors while flying under the radar by calling themselves “Social Advocacy” organizations.
Montanans should not be subjected to the undue influence of powerful, innocuously named special interest groups not necessarily representing the best interests of ordinary citizens. The attempt to sway elections by claiming that money equals free speech should not be tolerated.
Jack Thomson
Lakeside