Campaign 2012

Montana GOP donates $500K to Rick Hill

Posted: Oct 17, 2012 4:35 PM by Marnee Banks - MTN News

HELENA - Just weeks before the election, the Montana Republican Party has donated half a million dollars to Rick Hill's campaign.

Hill is facing Democrat Steve Bullock in the race for governor.

On Wednesday, Bullock's campaign called the donation "criminal" and filed a complaint with the Commissioner of Political Practices and will likely file a case in District Court on Thursday.

The party gave the money to Hill on Oct. 5, just days after a district court judge struck down Montana's campaign contribution limits.

Acting in his role as Montana Attorney General, Bullock filed a stay with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals asking the court to keep the old limits in place through this election.

On Tuesday, the court ruled and said the old limits do apply during this election cycle.

In that case, political parties would only be allowed to donate up to $22,000 to a gubernatorial candidate.

According to finance reports provided by the Hill campaign, the $500,000 donation has already been spent.

Hill's campaign asserts that the donation was made during the time when contribution limits were not in place and the transaction is completely legal.