Greetings Green Family!
Election day is quickly approaching and although our constitutional court battle for ballot access rages on, it is unlikely to be resolved by election day. However….
YOU CAN STILL WRITE IN YOUR GREEN CANDIDATES!
US SENATE: STEVE KELLY
US HOUSE: DOUG CAMPBELL
MONTANA SD 49: GREG STRANDBERG
MONTANA HD 15: ADRIEN OWEN WAGNER
We encourage you all to get to the polls and make your voice heard!
~Danielle Breck, Montana Green Party State Coordinator
We encourage every Montanan to vote Green – we have endorsed these candidates. Please write in their names if they are not printed on your ballot.
Richard Winger’s Ballot Access News does a good job summarizing the constitutional issues with Montana’s requirements for new parties.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1969 that distribution requirements for statewide petitions that are not equal, violate “one person, one vote.” Other states with distribution requirements for statewide petitions require an equal number of signatures, or an equal percentage of the total vote cast: Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania (primary petitions only), and Virginia.
Each voter in a Montana district that only requires 55 signatures has more power than a voter who lives in a district with a requirement for 150 signatures. The 2018 Green Party petition would have had enough valid signatures if it had not been for a recent state court ruling that it didn’t meet the distribution requirement. Montana did not have a distribution requirement for new parties until 1981, and it has never had one for independent candidates.
As to the March 15 deadline, other states with deadlines that early, or even later, for new party petitions (or new party candidate petitions), have been struck down in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California (for presidential elections), Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah (for special elections). If the state argues that the early deadline is needed to give the new party its own primary, the response is that states don’t need to give newly-qualifying parties their own primary. The case against early deadlines is especially in strong in states with severe winter weather, such as Montana.
Read the rest of the article here.
August 13, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Montana Green Party
http://mtgreenparty.org
Media Contact:
Danielle Breck,
[email protected],
406-274-3212
(Helena, Mt) On Monday the Montana Green Party (MGP), and 8 of its supporters, filed suit in Federal District Court. The case, which names the Montana Secretary of State, Corey Stapleton, as the defendant, asks the court to grant an immediate and permanent injunction on the enforcement of MCA, § 13-10-601(2)(a), (b), (c), and (d), as these statutes impose an unconstitutional burden on the MGP and its supporters by violating the first and fourteenth amendments to the United States Constitution.
The initial complaint declares that “the Plaintiffs will be denied their rights to actively engage in the exercise of their free speech, right to political association, right to form a political party, seek redress of grievances, cast an effective vote, and equal protection and due process of the laws of the State of Montana and the United States of America.”
The law in question has the most restrictive distribution requirements in the nation. It requires a third-party to submit, by March 15, at least 5,000 valid signatures, including 55 to 150 from at least 34 of the state’s House legislative districts.
The suit comes in response to the recent decision in a case that was filed by the Montana Democratic Party (MDP) in April. In the ruling issued by district court Judge Mike Reynolds the MGP was ordered removed from the general election ballot this fall due to technical irregularities surrounding a handful of the more than 7,300 signatures verified by local election officials. In the suit Democrats argued on technical grounds that some of those who signed printed their names instead of using cursive, used abbreviations and initials, wrote illegibly, used only a first or last name, or spelled their names differently.
MGP Coordinator Breck stated: “we believe it is our responsibility to stand up for constitutionally protected rights of the voters of Montana to affiliate with the political party of their choosing and to vote for candidates who represent their ideals. We cannot and will not sit idly by and allow the Democratic Party to silence the voices of the thousands of Montanans who believe in our Green movement. Let the MDP and its high-powered out of state attorneys continue to squabble with the SOS over whether or not MGP supporters met the letter of this unconstitutional law. We are moving this discussion to federal court where it belongs.”
“This lawsuit is a continuation of the Green Party’s grassroots battle to
protect all rights and powers reserved for the people by U.S. Constitution,”
said Steve Kelly, Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate. “Greens are
fighting against the corrosive power of big money and the two-party
corruption destroying the integrity of America’s election process.”
US House candidate Doug Campbell stated “Just as Montana’s laws for special elections were found to be unconstitutional by U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris in last year’s challenge, Breck v Stapleton, 9:17cv-36, so I contend that Montana’s laws for new and small political parties and Independent candidates are likewise unconstitutionally restrictive. I look forward to this case being heard and considered thoroughly and fairly, and I expect that all Montanans will benefit from more free and fair ballot access laws when the court hands down its decision. If the democratic processes in our Constitutional Republic are to work efficiently, the mechanisms must allow for full input by We The People.”
This is an issue that is important not just to MGP supporters, but to all Montanans. A point which was articulated by Montana Libertarian candidate for US House Elinor Swanson when she stated Monday that “Montana’s ballot access rules unlawfully restrict Montanans’ political activism. They significantly limit the ability of independent voters, small parties, and political candidates to politically participate. Montana’s rules relating to ballot access and political campaigns are so draconian and restrictive that they essentially amount to taxpayer-funded campaign contributions to political candidates and donations to political parties. These barriers to political participation are unconstitutional. ALL Montanans should have full, fair, and equal opportunity to engage in the political process.”
(Updated 5/28/18)
It was a beautiful spring day in Bozeman as old friends and some new ones came together to renew our commitment to working for the values we hold in common. There was a lot to discuss and our state coordinator Dani caught us up on the details of the court case. There is consensus among all of us that we continue to fight for ballot access so that all Montanans can have the option to vote for candidates who are not beholden to corporate donors.
We endorsed the following candidates: Steve Kelly of Bozeman for US Senate, Doug Campbell for US Congress, and Adrien Owen Wagner for Montana HD15. It is our consensus that these candidates represent our key values and are best qualified to serve the people of our country.
Steve Kelly
We spent a good deal of time discussing our plans for the next year including our push for Instant Runoff Voting (IRV.) Greg Schneider gave an informative presentation and we discussed our 3-pronged plan for advancing this tool which we are convinced will improve the health of our democracy in Montana. Currently the voters have very little ability to affect the outcome of elections and many feel their votes are wasted. IRV is a game changer.
Come join your friends, neighbors, and candidates as to discuss the state of the Montana Green Party and plan for its future!! Lunch will be served and children’s activities will take place throughout the day. Carpool whenever possible.
The state convention will be held at the Bozeman Event Space http://www.bozemaneventspace.com/ located at 14 South Tracy Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715 on Sunday, May 13th beginning at 10:00 AM. For additional information, contact 406-333-1898 or [email protected].
Tentative Agenda
10:00 AM: Registration begins
Come meet your fellow Montana Greens as we begin our day with an informal discussion over coffee and doughnuts!
10:30: Welcome Address: Thomas Breck
Introductions: A Brief Overview of the Day
11:00 AM: Workshops
How to organize a local party
Fundraising
Taking action: Brainstorming projects for the party!
We need to get our name out to the public…
What are our priorities?
What other organizations can we partner with to accomplish these goals?
11:00 AM: Open discussion forum
12:00 PM: Lunch Social
1:00 PM: Party Speakers: Candidates
Local
Adrien Owen Wagner, HD15
Federal
Doug Campbell, US House
Steve Kelley, US Senate
2:00 PM: Greg Schneider from Followthemoney.org re: Networking and info re: FairVote: RCV Initiative
2:30 PM: Appointment of Committee members
3:00 PM: MTGP Platform Discussion
Platform Committee Volunteers and dates for meeting
Bylaws
OUR POSITION
Greens want to reduce the economic and political power of large corporations, end corporate personhood and re-design corporations to serve our society, democracy and the environment.
Unelected and unaccountable corporate executives are not merely exercising power in our society — they are ruling us. Greens will reduce corporate powers and privileges, including by stripping them of artificial “personhood” and constitutional protections. The Green Party supports strong and effectively enforced antitrust laws and regulation to counteract the concentration of economic and political power that imposes a severe toll on people, places and the planet.
Greens believe the legal structure of the corporation is obsolete. At present, corporations are designed solely to generate profit. This legal imperative — profit above all else — is damaging our country and our planet in countless ways. We must change the legal design of corporations so that they generate profits, but not at the expense of the environment, human rights, public health, workers, or the communities in which the corporation operates.
One point remains unequivocal: our planet cannot afford business as usual any longer. Because corporations have become the dominant economic institution of the planet, we must compel them to serve human and environmental needs, so that our peoples, nations and environment may live long and prosper.
GREEN SOLUTIONS
Greetings Sisters and Brothers!
WE NEED YOUR HELP! PLEASE DONATE TO OUR LEGAL FUND!
http://mtgreenparty.org/donate/
The Montana Green Party is facing a legal challenge to our ballot access! We are incredibly saddened that the Democratic Party is working so hard to silence progressive voices in Montana and we pledge to continue to fight for your right to vote for candidates that represent you!
The DNC has brought in Perkins & Coie, the same high powered international law firm that they used to defend HRC and the DNC against Bernie supporters after the 2016 Democratic National Convention! Standing up to these bullies is not going to easy and we need financial support!
EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS! Together we can stand up to these bullies and defend the civil right of all Montanan’s!
Much love, Dani
(HELENA, MT) – On Tuesday, Missoula’s Quentin M. Rhoades will be in District Court in Helena, at 1:30pm, to represent the Montana Green Party (MTGP) and those who signed petitions to place the MTGP on the 2018 election ballot. Rhoads will face the international law firm of Perkins & Coie representing the Montana Democratic Party (MDP) with Peter Meloy of Helena. MTGP coordinator Dani Breck stated, “I did an internet search on the out-of-state firm, Perkins & Coie; for the Montana Dems to bring in this behemoth that has represented the DNC & HRC in attempt to silence Montanans’ voices does not seem very ‘democratic’ or ‘American’ for that matter.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2018
Montana Green Party
www.mtgreenparty.org
Media Contact:
Danielle Breck
406-274-3212
[email protected]
PRESS IS ASKED TO ATTEND
In attempt to disqualify enough signatures to get the Green Party removed from the ballots, the Democrats filed suit against the Secretary of State’s office, listing the MTGP as “Interested Party”. Cheryl Wolfe of Polson, treasurer of the MTGP, is encouraging supporters from across the state to attend the Tuesday hearing in order to defend petition signers rights and voting rights in general. “Montana rules have already made it difficult to get ballot access. We have to gather signatures for each election and that’s not easy when many of us work two jobs. Our members have been going through this laborsome process since 2000.” MTGP deputy treasurer, Harry Hoving from Billings added, “I feel all voters should have a meaningful voice and ballot access in Montana politics.”
Steve Kelly, 2018 Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate from Bozeman, is pleased the MTGP will be represented by a Montana attorney at this important hearing. “The Court has no higher duty than protecting the constitutional rights of individual voters,” Kelly, stated Monday. “In fact, I have asked the Court to appoint legal counsel to represent the interests of Montana’s individual electors – especially those who, in good faith, signed the Green Party ballot access petition,” said Kelly, a long time protector of the Big Sky state.
Adrien Owen Wagner, MTGP candidate from HD15 (covering areas of Heart Butte, Pablo, St. Ignatius, and Browning) is also looking forward to being on the ballot in November. The soon to be teacher stated his concerns: “How can a ‘democracy’ be expected to be inclusive if ‘the People’ are being excluded from real choices in candidates? My constituents, including the residents of the Blackfeet and Flathead reservations, deserve to have a choice of ‘community over corporation’ instead of only ‘profit at the expense of the people’. All Montanans deserve to have representation that matches their values not simply be placed in a limiting ‘either/or’ box.”
Breck also commented on the Dem’s lawsuit: “This abhorrent move shows how desperate the Democrats are to silence the voices of the Green Party. For an organization that claims to represent “the People” of Montana, the Democratic Party is working in overdrive via an undemocratic attempt to silence Montana Green and Independent voices.”
Those supporters who signed the petition are asked to attend the Tuesday 1:30pm hearing at the Helena District Court 228 E St. and to contact Dani at [email protected] before 9PM Monday.
###
April 20, 2018
(HELENA, MT) The hearing to determine if the Montana Democratic Party’s attempt to remove the Montana Green Party from the ballot will take place in Helena District Court on Tuesday April 24th at 1:30pm. The Montana Green Party is encouraging supporters from across the state to attend this hearing in order to defend petition signers’ rights and voting rights in general. If they are unable to attend the hearing in person they are requesting that the fill out the attached form declaring the validity of their support.
Montana Green Party Coordinator issued this statement “More than 10,000 Montana voters signed their names declaring their support for the Montana Green Party to be on the 2018 ballot. State and local elections officials did their due diligence in reviewing those signatures and determined that 7,386 signatures were valid and that the MTGP had qualified in total of 38 districts. This is far more the the 5000 signatures and 34 districts that the party needed.
The efforts by the Democratic Party to disqualify the Green Party over 180 signatures that the Dems don’t think are good enough is not only petty, but also a direct attack on the rights of the Montana voters who signed this petition. For an organization that claims to represent the best interests of the people of Montana, the Democratic Party is working in overdrive in their undemocratic attempt to silence Montana’s Green voices.
The Montana Democrats are likely running up a huge bill by sending in the out-of-state international legal behemoth, Perkins & Coie, to work alongside their local counsel the Meloy Law Firm. If the Democratic Party’s legal efforts are successful in snuffing out this Green Party ballot access, Montana taxpayers may be responsible for covering the out-of-state legal firm’s costs along with the state legal costs, making this effort even more abhorrent.
If that is the case, Montana voters would essentially pay the total economic cost to have their civil rights violated via the out-of-state influence of a heavy handed, high-powered international legal firm.”
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ga_1h5sgymgMqvG9b7ZNhg_YFvTyWmBfwqn9vOmd1BI/edit?usp=sharing
https://www.facebook.com/events/1682817021808052/
Come join your friends, neighbors, and candidates as we discuss the state of your Montana Green Party and plan for its future!!
Lunch will be served and children’s activities will take place throughout the day! Let’s carpool!
Meeting will be held at 14 S Tracy Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715
The Montana Green Party is a progressive political organization, dedicated to grassroots democracy, social justice, decentralization, respect for diversity, and environmental and economic sustainability.
“Our overall goal is not merely to survive, but to share lives that are truly worth living. We believe the quality of our individual lives is enriched by the quality of all of our lives. We encourage everyone to see the dignity and intrinsic worth in all of life, and to take the time to understand and appreciate themselves, their community and the magnificent beauty of this world.” -A.S.G.P. Platform
