Montana Coalitions Applaud the Montana Supreme
Court Decision on CI-97, CI-98 & I-154
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, October 26, 2006
CONTACT: Marissa Kozel, Not in Montana: Citizens
Against CI-97, 406-465-0283; Al Smith, Montanans for Justice:
Vote No on CI-98, 406-443-3124; Janet Ellis, Property Owners
Against I-154, 406-443-3949
(Helena) - Today the Montana Supreme Court
brought justice to Montana voters, by upholding a lower court
ruling that prevents votes on Constitutional Initiative 97,
Constitutional Initiative 98, and Initiative 154, from being
counted in the November election.
The high court upheld a ruling made by District
Court Judge Dirk Sandefur. Judge Sandefur's ruling de-certified
all three initiatives, based on pervasive fraud committed
by paid, out-of-state signature gatherers.
"The signature gathering process for CI-97,
CI-98, and I-154 was permeated by a pervasive and general
pattern and practice of deceit, fraud, and procedural non-compliance,"
Judge Sandefur concluded.
The three coalitions opposing the initiatives,
Not in Montana: Citizens Against CI-97; Montanans for Justice:
Vote No on CI-98; and, Property Owners Against I-154, applauded
the Supreme Court for making it clear that fraud will not
be tolerated in Montana.
"The Supreme Court has upheld the integrity
of Montana's initiative process by ruling that Trevis Butcher
and his wealthy east-coast supporters must not be allowed
to benefit from these blatant violations of Montana law,"
said Mike Meloy, attorney for the coalitions.
"Many Montanans were duped into signing
petitions by signature gatherers who lied to collect names,"
said Jackie Boyle, coordinator of Not in Montana. "These
people are hired professionals, who move from state to state
as part of a national anti-government movement. New York City
multi-millionaire Howie Rich calls the shots and signs the
checks. They don't care about Montana or Montanans."
Montanans for Justice: Vote No on CI-98, and
Property Owners Against I-154 say this decision sends an important
message to out-of-state interests playing games with Montana's
constitution.
"The court has made it clear that proponents
of initiatives must follow the law in qualifying initiatives
for the ballot," said William Hunt Sr. of Helena, former
Supreme Court justice and co-chair of Montanans for Justice.
"These committees had the choice to do it right, to follow
the letter and spirit of Montana's initiative laws; they chose
instead to utilize out of state signature gatherers of dubious
character who flaunted and broke Montana's laws."
"This entire campaign-from the fraud used
in the petition drive to the hidden impacts of each of these
ballot measures-was part of an out-of-state scheme to hoodwink
Montanans into changing the face of Montana forever,"
said Janet Ellis from Property Owners Against I-154.
"New York real estate mogul Howie Rich
and his Montana front group got caught breaking our state's
laws, but Montana voters need to stay vigilant-because they'll
be back. We don't need outside developers like Howie Rich
telling us how to run Montana."
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Not in Montana: Citizens Against CI-97, 1232 E. 6th Ave.,
Helena, Montana 59601, 406.443.3374, David Smith, Treas.
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