On Tuesday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals made the decision to reinstate Montana’s campaign donation, telling the federal judge who overturned it to issue his reasoning so the case can be reviewed by the panel. The decision by the judge allowed for unlimited money in state elections. All of this stems from the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.
A federal judge was convinced by multiple groups to declare some laws as unconstitutional, one of which being the law that places a cap on contributions given to candidates by political parties and individuals.
Candidates have said that they would abide by the previous limits on donations while others said that they would take large donations. Disclosure reports will be filed at a later date with the state Commissioner of Political Practices. Disclosing donations is required by law but officials with the state are worried that conservative groups will go after that law soon.
After the Citizens United decision, many of the laws in Montana have been defeated, which has opened the door for larger corporate spending in federal races. Montana had a ban on partisan endorsements of judicial candidates, which was defeated by a federal appeals court. The court cited Citizens United when it defeated that ban.