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Corporate Interests File Lawsuit to Block Montanans from Collecting Signatures on “The Montana Plan”
HELENA, Montana — Just days after the Transparent Election Initiative (TEI) was cleared to begin collecting signatures for The Montana Plan (Initiative I-194), a coalition of corporate & industry groups — including the Montana Chamber of Commerce and Montana Petroleum Association — filed a lawsuit with the Montana Supreme Court seeking to block the measure from reaching the ballot.
The lawsuit asks the Court to intervene before Montanans have the opportunity to collect signatures and place the question before voters: whether corporations and other artificial entities should be allowed to spend money influencing elections.
“Montana has a long history of powerful corporate interests trying to control our politics and shut out the voices of ordinary citizens,” said Jeff Mangan, founder of the Transparent Election Initiative and former Montana Commissioner of Political Practices. “Just like the Copper Kings, these modern corporate barons will do anything to protect their grip on political power — even if it means trying to stop Montanans from having their say.”
The Montana Plan — designated Initiative I-194 — was found legally sufficient by the Attorney General last week, clearing the way for signature collection to begin statewide. Rather than making their case to voters, the corporate petitioners are now asking the Court to halt the citizen initiative process altogether.
TEI leaders say the lawsuit is an attempt to use the courts to silence a growing, citizen-led movement and protect the influence of large corporate interests.
“Think about it. They are telling the Court their voice is more important than the voices of our citizens and small businesses,” Mangan said. “This isn’t about protecting free speech — it’s about protecting the ability of big corporate interests to dominate our elections with money, while everyone else gets pushed aside.”
The campaign emphasized that The Montana Plan is being driven by a broad grassroots effort, not corporate funding or outside influence. More than 600 volunteers across Montana have already signed up to collect signatures in every region of the state, with thousands more offering support.
“This is a real, citizen-led effort,” said Chris Burke, a West Yellowstone small business owner and TEI volunteer organizer. “Small business owners like me don’t have teams of lawyers or lobbyists. We rely on fair elections and having our voices heard. Trying to shut this down before we can even gather signatures shows exactly who this system is working for — and who it isn’t.”
TEI leaders noted that large-scale election spending is often driven through organizations with far greater financial resources than any local business can match. When political influence is tied to the size of institutional treasuries, national corporations and well-funded groups gain a built-in advantage, while small businesses are left on the sidelines. The Montana Plan, they said, is designed to rebalance that system by reducing the role of large organizational spending and restoring a political environment where individual participation, community relationships, and local credibility carry more weight.
TEI leaders pointed to Montana’s history as a reminder of what’s at stake.
“For generations, Montanans fought to break the grip of corporate control over our politics,” Mangan added. “This campaign is about making sure our elections belong to the people, not to the biggest checkbook.”
Despite the legal challenge, TEI says signature-gathering efforts will continue statewide.
“We are confident the Montana Supreme Court will stand with Montanans and uphold the right of the people to decide this issue at the ballot box, as our Constitution provides,” Mangan said. “Montanans deserve their say.”
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