Corporations banned from direct political spending again

[Cain]

Good news?  On my internets?

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20111231/NEWS01/112310303/Montana-high-court-upholds-ban-election-spending-by-corporations

HELENA — The Montana Supreme Court restored the state's century-old ban on direct spending by corporations on political candidates or committees in a ruling Friday that interest groups say bucks a high-profile U.S. Supreme Court decision granting political speech rights to corporations...

A group seeking to undo the Citizens United decision lauded the Montana high court, with its co-founder saying it was a "huge victory for democracy."

"With this ruling, the Montana Supreme Court now sets up the first test case for the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit its Citizens United decision, a decision which poses a direct and serious threat to our democracy," John Bonifaz, of Free Speech For People, said in a statement.

This is far more politically relevant than the Iowa sideshow, not that anyone with a "serious" political writing gig would admit it.

[Scribbly]

Wow, that really is good news.

... I'm a little scared.

[LMNO]

I'm just trying to figure out how this can be of use to the Plutocracy.

I know MT has a lot of anti-logging, preservationist groups that have actually made some strides against the destruction of the Blackfoot river.  Maybe this could be used against them?

[Cain]

He's a Democrat with links to unions running for governor of Montana this year.

Hamstringing your oppositiion before they can make a move is a pretty canny and, for a Democrat, bold play.

[LMNO]

Max Baucus has always seemed like a shrewd guy.

[Cain]

Oh, this isn't Baucus, this is the Attorney General, Steve Bullock.  Though I believe Baucus is heavily supported by the pharmaceutical industry...

[Cramulus]

Heard Lawrence Lessig (one of my heroes!) on the Colbert Report in mid December talking about this kind of action. Apparently Connecticut offered a clean election policy in 05. Lessig says that candidates have to choose to "opt in" to it, and surprisingly (to cynics), most do.

It's really refreshing to know that this energy current is still slowly gaining some toeholds. The Montana episode lays the groundwork for more progress.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I've been thinking about moving to Montana for years.

Can't do it because of the kids, but I like to think about it.

[LMNO]

Warning: Outside of Missoula, there isn't a whole lot of appreciation for smudgy people.  For the most part.  Barring small enclaves.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Warning: Outside of Missoula, there isn't a whole lot of appreciation for smudgy people.  For the most part.  Barring small enclaves.

I'm only black legally, and Montana doesn't recognize Federal law, so...

[LMNO]

Warning: Outside of Missoula, there isn't a whole lot of appreciation for smudgy people.  For the most part.  Barring small enclaves.

I'm only black legally, and Montana doesn't recognize Federal law, so...

[Freeky]

Warning: Outside of Missoula, there isn't a whole lot of appreciation for smudgy people.  For the most part.  Barring small enclaves.

I'm only black legally, and Montana doesn't recognize Federal law, so...

Buh? 


Pretend that after that there was a little yellow guy with three question marks over his head.

[LMNO]

Um.  Wow.  The judges in Montana are bad ass.

"Corporations are not persons," writes Nelson. "Human beings are persons, and it is an affront to the inviolable dignity of our species that courts have created a legal fiction which forces people—human beings—to share fundamental, natural rights with soulless creatures of government." Just in case that wasn't crystal clear, Nelson goes on to add that "while corporations and human beings share many of the same rights under the law, they clearly are not bound equally to the same codes of good conduct, decency, and morality, and they are not held equally accountable for their sins. Indeed, it is truly ironic that the death penalty and hell are reserved only to natural persons."

And that's from the DISSENTING OPINION.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Um.  Wow.  The judges in Montana are bad ass.

"Corporations are not persons," writes Nelson. "Human beings are persons, and it is an affront to the inviolable dignity of our species that courts have created a legal fiction which forces people—human beings—to share fundamental, natural rights with soulless creatures of government." Just in case that wasn't crystal clear, Nelson goes on to add that "while corporations and human beings share many of the same rights under the law, they clearly are not bound equally to the same codes of good conduct, decency, and morality, and they are not held equally accountable for their sins. Indeed, it is truly ironic that the death penalty and hell are reserved only to natural persons."

And that's from the DISSENTING OPINION.

wow

[Telarus]

WOW