Howie in Montana
The so-called Open and Clean Government Initiative failed to make the ballot in 2008. It was sponsored by Rep. George Everett of Kalispell. He is the 4th most conservative member of the Montana legislature according to a ranking by Montana Conservatives. In an interview Everett hinted that he has backers, but didn't lay it out:
"Right now, the people I've been associated with on this have done a poll, and they're wondering if they're prepared to put money in it," he said. "My associates, they're feeling that right at this time, we may have put it in too late." Asked who these I-156 backers are, Everett referred a reporter to Chris Gallus, the Helena lawyer who drafted it. Asked the same question, Gallus said he had to check with Everett. Neither called back. (The Billings Gazette. "Ballot Measure Would Rein in Some Unions' Donations." May 2, 2008.)
Chris Gallus was the lawyer for Rich's Montanans in Action in 2006. (The Billings Gazette. "Ballot Measure Would Rein in Some Unions' Donations." May 2, 2008.)
