#MTGov Daily Rundown: Bullock's Big Money Hypocrisy

Governor Steve Bullock continues to "do one thing and say another" on money in his campaign. While he claims to defend transparency in elections and decry the influence of "outside groups," his own record is much different.

In August, news broke that the anti-coal special interest group Montana Conservation Voters is going to spend $500,000 in dark money to help re-elect the governor.

"A Montana-based environmental group said Monday it will spend $500,000 to help re-elect Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock and defeat his Republican rival, Greg Gianforte.

The Montana Conservation Voters Action Fund, a political action committee, will use the money to fund a door-to-door canvassing effort to encourage people to sign up for absentee ballots, and to vote in the governor’s race." -MTN News 8/8/2016

"Reporter Mike Dennison quickly pointed out that the Montana Conservation Voters Action Fund would be using anonymous “dark money” to fund the door-to-door canvassing — the irony being that Bullock has long been a critic of “dark money” used to influence elections but will benefit from it this year." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 8/12/2016

MCV claimed that they would report their spending on August 9, however, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported that, as of that date, they had yet to report their spending. It also doesn't change the fact that the money spent remains "dark money."

"But it wasn’t. The fund’s balance actually dropped from $17,854 to $15,673, according to the new report. If and when Elliot does disclose the money, it will still be “dark money” in that there is no way for the public to know where it came from except for an address in Washington, D.C." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 8/12/2016

The Governor has also taken more than $250,000 in special interest PAC money, while refusing to sign the no-PAC money pledge.

Meanwhile, Governor Bullock has continued to decry this same of out-of-state special interest money.

"Montana has a history of clean and fair elections, but that history was tarnished in recent years by secretive, out of state, special interests who tried to buy our elections. The message to those who seek to hide in the shadows while using despicable tactics to con Montana voters is clear: you're not welcome here." -Governor Steve Bullock

Bullock has continued to face charges of hypocrisy on this issue as he campaigns against dark money, yet continues to benefit greatly from its use. During 2015, Bullock chaired the Democratic Governors Association where he primary job was raising corporate cash, much of it undisclosed. The DGA has already spent more than $4 million on Bullock's re-election efforts.

"A PAC funded primarily by the Democratic Governors Association reported spending another $1.45 million this month on ads in support of Bullock, increasing its total spending to $4.25 million this campaign. Other outside groups also are spending funds to support Bullock and attack Gianforte.
A PAC funded by the Republican." -MTN News, 10/24/2016

As chair, Bullock raised more than $17 million in corporate donations. At least $3 million came from undisclosed sources.

"The DGA group is called America Works USA. Records and public statements by the DGA indicate the group collected $3 million of the $17 million raised by the DGA the first six months of this year – but DGA officials wouldn’t confirm that figure." -MTN News, 9/17/2016

Bullock hosted multiple corporate fundraisers in 2015, while at the same time decrying dark money during the 2015 legislative session.

"On Friday, Gov. Steve Bullock hosted a fundraising dinner for the Democratic Governors Association in Washington, D.C.

The exclusive event, which coincided with the National Governor’s Association annual winter meeting, comes a little more than two weeks after Bullock criticized unlimited corporate campaign contributions and undisclosed “dark money.” -Great Falls Tribune, 2/22/2016

Bullock's own elections efforts have benefitted greatly from DGA cash. In 2012, The DGA spent $3 million in support of Bullock through the Montana Jobs, Education, and Technology (JET) PAC. The DGA is already spending big money on Bullock's re-election bid.

"In 2012, the DGA raised more than $50 million, much of that coming from unions, drug makers, insurance companies, energy companies and other corporate sources. That year, the DGA gave over $2.8 million to Montana Jobs, Education and Technology PAC, a political action committee that worked to get Bullock elected." -Great Falls Tribune, 11/21/2014

Bullock has also been using tax dollars to campaign as he flies the state executive aircraft to campaign events.

"Residents are right to question whether they're underwriting the campaigning costs of the governor. Many of the trips Bullock went on seemed contrived or PR stunts more than state legitimate business, which made the entire situation feel like he was gaming the system." -Billings Gazette, 9/1/2016

Being caught again using the state plane either demonstrates arrogance or a tone-deafness about the issue. What's even more is that Bullock recently used the state plane to hop over to Deer Lodge, less than a 60-mile trip from Helena. We'd venture to guess it took longer to get the plane ready than it did to make the quick journey. We understand that the governor's time as the state's chief executive is valuable, but is it so precious that such a small time savings and large expense of a plane makes it pencil out? " -Billings Gazette, 9/1/2016