“CI-126 and CI-127
Montanans for Election Reform (MER) has continued to fundraise almost entirely from national organizations (not local Montanans). – Since the start of 2024, MER has raised nearly 99% of its cash from outside groups, meaning that individual donors only account for about 1% of the group’s total money raised since the start of the year. Over the course of 2024, MER has raised roughly $4.52 million and about $4.36 million of that cash has solely come from two national organizations: Article IV and Unite America PAC.” (Excerpt from a document shared by the GOP)
A concern raised at a Q&A event with local candidates on September 26th was the push for Constitutional Initiatives on matters that should be discussed in the legislature with possible bills making changes as needed to our laws, instead of changing the Constitution. It is also questionable to bring forward initiatives when Montanans themselves are not the main parties advocating for them. Food for thought: Who is pushing for changing the “Last Best Place”, and WHY? It was pointed out that the initiatives required 60,000 signatures from Montana citizens to be put on the ballot, but it is fair to ask whether all the signees were sufficiently aware of the implications of the initiatives as they were confronted with well trained and paid for signature gatherers with rehearsed lines to promote the issues.
As Linda Reksten, candidate for HD13, pointed out, abortion is already legal in Montana, so women CAN make choices about their bodies. Is CI-128 even needed?
Aside from CI-128, candidates agreed on most issues that were brought up: property taxes need to be lowered; affordable housing IS a problem to solve; the education system must be improved; the separation of Church and State – separation of powers and checks and balances – is a good thing – though interpretations can vary on whether separation of the Church pushes moral values aside as well… Each candidate vowed to represent every citizen in their districts, not just special groups.
In his closing statement, Tracy Sharp, candidate for HD12, voiced a thought that is on many minds today: this is no longer about Republican or Democrat issues. We need to come together to fight an overcentralized government.
