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Sponsor's bid to bar recent political donors from being tie-breaking redistricting commissioner draws constitutional objections
Summary
House Bill 711 would prevent the Montana Supreme Court from selecting as the "fifth" tie-breaker on the independent redistricting commission anyone who made campaign contributions in the previous 10 years to major state or federal parties or offices. Legal and free-speech concerns were raised by witnesses.
A sponsor who identified himself as the representative for House District 33 told the Senate Judiciary Committee that House Bill 711 would bar the Supreme Court from naming as the commission's fifth member any person who made campaign contributions to major state or federal party or office candidates in the prior 10 years. The sponsor said the change aims to ensure the fifth member is nonpartisan and free of political bias.
Joe Lampson, an experienced…
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