Today at the Montana Legislature, state Senators discussed taking away a full-time attorney for the office of the Commissioner of Political Practices.
As written, the commissioner, Jonathan Motl, says the state budget would force him to contract out for an attorney, potentially costing more money for less experience.
Motl says his office may have more complaints due to the increased use of corporate money under the Citizens United ruling.
“It is likely going to increase and peak in 2016 because we are going to see the full effect of the loss of Montana’s historical prohibition of corporate independent expenditures.”
The budget’s sponsor, Republican Representative Ryan Osmundson says, a full-time employee, or FTE, was necessary before, but may not be in the future.
“Any time we put a new FTE on the books, it never comes off.”
The Senate Finance and Claims committee is expected to vote on the full state budget, including the commissioner's attorney, on Wednesday.