Campaign 2012

Supreme Court won't block Montana campaign law ahead of election

Posted: Oct 24, 2012 7:30 AM by MTN News
Updated: Oct 24, 2012 7:30 AM

WASHINGTON D.C. - The U.S. Supreme Court will not block a Montana law that limits campaign contributions to candidates for state office.

The nation's highest court sided Tuesday with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, temporarily reinstating Montana's contribution limit law thru the current election.

Back in early October, federal judge Charles Lovell found Montana's contribution limit law unconstitutional.

But just 6-days later, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed and issued a stay of Lovell's ruling.

Tuesday the Supreme Court declined to lift that stay.

The case is central to the current dispute over a half million dollar contibution to Rick Hills campaign for governor by the Montana Republican party.

Hill's opponent, Democratic Attorney General Steve Bullock sued to force Hill's campaign to give the money back.

Hill maintains Montana contribution limits were not in effect, during the days between Judge Lovell's ruling and the stay by the 9th circuit.

Montana's campaign contribution limit law was enacted by a 1994 state voter initiative.

Topics: Billings, KTVQ, U.S. Supreme Court, campaign contributions