The Commissioner of Political Practices office. (Commissioner of Political Practices)

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has rejected a ballot initiative seeking to limit the power of corporations to spend money on elections, saying it did not meet legal review standards.

The proposed Ballot Measure No. 4 would amend Article XIII of the state constitution to redefine the powers of corporations (“artificial persons” under the constitution) to state that they have no power to spend money “or anything of value on elections or ballot issues.” The proposal is a response to the Citizens United U.S. Supreme Court decision, which said spending money in elections is equivalent to free speech.

Jeff Mangan, a former Commissioner of Political Practices in Montana, is the founder of the Transpa

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