Mangan to give talk on Transparent Election Initiative Wednesday at Montana Tech

The following is information provided by the Transparent Election Initiative:

Everyone in our community is invited to a talk by Jeff Mangan, former Montana Commissioner of Political Practices, regarding the Transparent Election Initiative, also known as the "Montana Plan."  This is a nonpartisan initiative to stop dark money and corporate PACs from taking over our elections.  The talk will be held Wednesday, September 10th, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, at the Copper Lounge at Montana Tech's Student Union; admission is free, and parking is available at the Montana Tech Library parking lot.  Learn about how Montanans can take back our elections for all Montana citizens - and how you can help!

WHAT IS THE MONTANA PLAN?

The Montana Plan is a constitutional ballot initiative to end corporate and dark money in Montana politics. It uses authority our state has always held—the power to decide what powers our corporations have—to stop them all, even those based out of state, from spending to influence Montana’s local, state, and federal politics. By writing it into our constitution, we keep it out of the hands of politicians. If the Plan gets onto the ballot, Montanans will vote on it in November 2026. How It Makes Citizens United Irrelevant Citizens United said government can’t regulate a corporation’s right to spend in politics once the state has given it that power. But it never said a state must give corporations political-spending power in the first place. Corporations are created by state law, and states can change their corporate laws at any time. If Montana doesn’t grant political-spending power to its corporations, that “right” never attaches — making Citizens United irrelevant here. And because The Montana Plan applies to out-of-state corporations, too, it closes the door on all corporate and dark political spending in Montana.

WHERE THINGS STAND AND WHAT'S NEXT

Montana organizers are building the team, finalizing the ballot language, and preparing for legal review and the signature drive. Once cleared, likely by early 2026, we’ll need to gather at least 100,000 signatures to make sure the measure qualifies for the ballot.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

This is a statewide effort, but it starts with you. Here’s how:

• • Sign up at transparentelection.org to stay informed
• • Volunteer to talk with your friends, family, and neighbors about The Montana Plan
• • Donate to help fund legal costs, outreach, materials, and organizing