If you’re a regular reader of The Western Word you know that I have offered my commentary about the automated phone calls (Robocalls) conducted during campaigns. I don’t care for them.

They are also against Montana law (MCA 45-8-216).

According to the Associated Press (AP), the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices “ruled last month that Citizens for Strong Law Enforcement should be penalized for thousands of automated phone calls to voters…”

88,400 calls…made way back in mid 2008. I believe I received one of those calls. The harm and the pain, not to mention the valuable time it cost me, is worth about a half a million…

The calls were made against one GOP Attorney General candidate advocating for another GOP Attorney General candidate but they “…did not disclose its treasurer was a Great Falls attorney and big Democratic donor.”

It appears to me the “big Democratic donor” was trying to sway the election toward the weaker GOP candidate so his candidate (a Democrat named Steve Bullock) would win, but that’s just my speculation…

The Montana GOP has more on this issue HERE. You can also read the ruling HERE (PDF).

Readers may remember that candidates Jon Tester and John Morrison made automated phone calls back in 2005. Nothing was ever done.

The moral to this story is that it’s OK to break Montana law during campaigns because it will be years before you’re held accountable, if at all. If you are held accountable, then you’ll get to pay a small penalty even if your side won the election.

Sounds like a good deal to me…

One other note, the AP reported that the “findings” were turned over to the Cascade County prosecutors on February 3. They have 30 days to do something. From what I know about that office, I doubt much will get done, but we’ll see. If not, it will go back to the Commissioner’s office to decide on the penalty.