In response to Governor Gianforte signing House Bill 818 into law, Americans for Public Trust, a nonpartisan watchdog, issued the following statement:
We are disappointed Governor Gianforte chose not to veto House Bill 818 because it does nothing to comprehensively ban foreign funding of Montana ballot issue campaigns. While the legislation was at one point a recognition of the need to stop foreign interference in Montana, the version signed by the governor is so weak, foreign-backed organizations like the Sixteen Thirty Fund will still be able to dump unlimited money into state ballot measures. This means that Montanans will continue to have their voices drowned out by foreign billionaires. We encourage Montana legislators to try again next session to pass strong legislation like eight other states have in the last year alone.
