HELENA – A judge will hear arguments next week on whether he should stay a portion of his ruling on Montana’s campaign contribution limits that would allow political parties to make unlimited donations to candidates.
U.S. District Judge Charles Lovell set a hearing on the Montana Department of Justice’s motion for Tuesday, just two weeks before the June 7 primary elections.
Lovell ruled this week that the campaign contribution limits approved by Montana voters in 1994 are unconstitutionally low. State officials reverted to pre-1994 limits for individual donors and political committees, but said they could not do the same for political parties because the 1994 initiative actually increased the amount parties could contribute.
State officials say that means there are no limits on the amount that parties can donate, and the loophole must be closed.