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Heated hearing on bill to let political parties donate to judicial candidates
Summary
House Bill 39 would repeal the statute barring political parties from contributing to judicial candidates; proponents say it would increase transparency and reduce out-of-state PAC influence, while tribal leaders, the State Bar and constitutional historians warned it risks partisan labeling of judges and undermines public confidence.
Representative Tom Millett opened House Bill 39, a request of the Senate Select Committee on Judicial Oversight, seeking to repeal MCA 13-30-5-231 so political party committees could directly contribute to judicial candidates. Millett and proponents argued the change would make party involvement transparent and "level the playing field" against independent, often out-of-state expenditures. Senator Barry Usher (vice chair of the Senate Special Select Committee) said party committees currently route funds through outside PACs, obscuring donor origin, and that allowing party contributions…
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