‘Dark money’ – Commissioners ask state to investigate environmental groups’ funding sources

The Ravalli County Commissioners sent a letter to Montana State Attorney General Tim Fox last week asking him to have the state Justice Department investigate the finances of several environmental/conservation organizations that they believe are being financed by “dark money.”

“In our capacity as local elected officials we have been attacked by well-funded organizations who engage in blatant, and extremely misleading political activity with little or no public disclosure of how much money is being raised or from whom the funding is generated. We are frustrated with the lack of transparency and accountability on the funding sources and are concerned with potential non-compliance with state and federal laws by these environmental groups,” they wrote.

The commissioners ask Fox to initiate a Montana Department of Justice investigation into seven specific organizations including Montana Conservation Voters, Montana Environmental Information Center, Montana Wilderness Association, Montana Wildlife Federation, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Montana Mountain Mamas, and Our Land, Our Heritage.

The commissioners claim that, “Through misleading and disingenuous media campaigns, we believe these groups have economically harmed several of Montana’s rural counties reliant upon agriculture, outdoor recreation, natural resources and real, meaningful multiple-use access to our public lands as fundamental components to our local heritage and economic vitality. The 2017 fire season is the most recent of many, demonstrating the devastating economic impact to our businesses and the emotional and physical harm to our citizens through legal challenges and delays in active forest and wildlife management.”

The commissioners’ letter came in response to “concerning information” submitted to them by Keith Kubista, which included material from the Montana Outdoor Coalition entitled “Montana in the Crosshairs: How Foreign/Out of State Money is Trying to Influence Treasure State Voters,” and “A Tangled Web Environmentalists Weave” from the Montana Outdoor Coalition regarding how certain environmental groups are funding and engaging in advocacy efforts in Montana, and the Green Decoy Report.

The commissioners quote Governor Steve Bullock in the letter and cc’d him the contents, stating that, “On June 8, 2018. Governor Bullock announced his Executive Order requiring the recipients of major contracts with the State of Montana to disclose dark money spending in elections. He stated, ‘Where Citizens United opened the door for a wave of dark money, Montana will shine the light… Montana will again stand up for openness and fairness in politics.’ While the entities we are concerned with may not be contracting with the State, their actions are no less impactful to the citizens of Montana. We hope county commissioners across the state will join us in our quest for transparency and truth.”

Kubista told the commissioners at the meeting on Wednesday, August 1, that these groups were not only holding up and delaying forest management by their legal challenges, they were also holding up wildlife management by challenging the de-listing of endangered species that have recovered.

Penny Howe thanked the commissioners for trying to stop the “economic devastation” of the community by these groups.

“It’s all about the money,” she said. “The greatest treasure of the state is its people, not wildlife, fish and open spaces.”

State Representative Theresa Manzella thanked the commissioners for their efforts and said, “This is the biggest issue facing us in Montana.”

Jan Wisnewski said that loggers, agriculturalists and industry workers were being killed off just like the Indians were, by destroying their livelihood.