38-page opinion - Election Law Blog
38-page opinion - Election Law Blog
38-page opinion - Election Law Blog
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Case 6:12-cv-00012-CCL Document 168 Filed 10/10/12 Page 17 of <strong>38</strong><br />
Practices. She has a number ofresponsibilities with the Office, including ensuring<br />
that candidates comply with Montana's laws and regulations. According to Baker,<br />
many candidates utilize volunteer services that are provided by political parties.<br />
Baker testified that there are 141 or 142 current and active political<br />
committees registered in the State ofMontana. There are approximately 123<br />
political party committees in the State, approximately 50 of which are Republican<br />
party committees. Baker testified that she believed a contribution of up to $1,000<br />
would not have a corruptive effect.<br />
I. Montana's contribution limits<br />
ANALYSIS<br />
Montana Code Annotated § 13-37-216(1), (3), (5) provides:<br />
(l)(a) Subject to adjustment as provided for in subsection (4),[3]<br />
aggregate contributions for each election in a campaign by a political<br />
committee or by an individual, other than the candidate, to a candidate<br />
are limited as follows:<br />
J Subsection 4 provides:<br />
(a) The commissioner shall adjust the limitations in subsections (\) and (3) hy<br />
multiplying each limit by an inflation factor, which is determined by dividing the<br />
consumer price index for June ofthe year prior to the year in which a general election<br />
is held by the consumer price index for June 2002.<br />
(b) The resulting figure must be rounded up or down to the nearest:<br />
(i) $10 increment for the limits established in subsection (l); and<br />
(ii) $50 increment for the limits established in subsection (3).<br />
(c) The commissioner shall publish the revised limitations as a rule.<br />
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