#MTGov Daily Rundown: Bullock Called Out for Dark Money and Coal Hypocrisy

Governor Steve Bullock loves to claim that he is against so-called "dark money" in Montana's elections and that he supports Montana's coal industry. State Sen. Doug Kary took to the opinion page of the Great Falls Tribune over the weekend to put those claims to rest once and for all.

"Dark money has taken on such a high level of prominence in Montana elections under Gov. Steve Bullock’s administration. No governor in Montana history has played a larger role in raising dark money, and now it looks like he’s also going to take the number one spot in benefiting from dark money in his re-election as well." -State Sen. Doug Kary, Great Falls Tribune 8/21/2016

Sen. Kary points out that the environmental extremist group Montana Conservation Voters is reportedly planning to spend $500,000 campaigning against the pro-coal and pro-Colstrip candidate Greg Gianforte, and on behalf of the governor.

"MCV is funded almost entirely from large, progressive, “social justice” foundations from outside Montana in places like California and Washington, D.C.

Those groups funnel large amounts of cash to MCV in order to influence our politics and state policy. This year, a primary policy motive behind a lot of that money is to eliminate Montana’s coal industry." -State Sen. Doug Kary, Great Falls Tribune 8/21/2016


Kary says that those same groups are also helping to fund the Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC). MEIC is one of the group's that sued to shut down Colstrip Units 1 and 2. MEIC gets a large amount of money from the dark money Brainerd Foundation.

"For instance, one of those national groups is the Brainerd Foundation, based in Seattle. Brainerd is one of MEIC’s biggest funders, giving them $287,000 over the last five years. Brainerd is also one of MCV’s largest funders, giving them $213,000 in the last five years. Brainerd takes credit for funding the litigation to shut down Colstrip, listing it as their biggest success of this year.\

As a dark-money group, it’s impossible to know where Brainerd’s funding actually comes from. But at the very least, it’s important for Montanans to know the extent to which this dark money is influencing our politics, our state policy, and now our economy." -State Sen. Doug Kary, Great Falls Tribune 8/21/2016


Bullock is also taking campaign donations directly from the leaders of MEIC, the Sierra Club of Montana (MEIC's partner in the litigation against Colstrip), and Montana Conservation Voters.

"Campaign records show Gianforte’s allegation is true." -Billings Gazette 7/13/2016

From MEIC:

Greg Lind (Missoula) - $1,300 to Steve Bullock 2016, $1260 in 2012
Bob Ream (Helena) -$300 to Steve Bullock in 2016, $1260 in 2012Jennifer Swearingen (Bozeman) - $200 to SB in 2016, $650 in 2012John Rundquist Treasurer (Helena) - $250 Steve Bullock 2012
Alexis Bonogofsky (Billings) -$350 Steve Bullock (2012)

From the Sierra Club's Montana Executive Committee:

Teresa Brock - $100 to SB in 2016
Mike Scott (staff) - $400 to SB in 2016
Bob Clark - $100 to SB in 2016, $25 in 2012

From Montana Conservation Voters:

Robin Saha - Vice Chairperson - $50 in 2016, $25 in 2012

Elizabeth Ametsbichler - Treasurer - $100 in 2016,  $50 in 2012

Dave Chadwick - Director Helena - $50 in 2016

Katie Craig Scherfig - Gallatin-Park Chapter Representative - $35 in 2012

Brenda Lindlief Hall - PAC Board Rep. $225 in 2016, $235 in 2012

Beth Madden - Alternate Gallatin-Park Chapter Representative - $15 in 2016

Clayton Elliott - $50 in 2016, $75 in 2012

Ross Prosperi - $50 in 2012

Neal Ullman - $100 in 2012

Jeanne Marie Souvigney -$200 in 2012