Brian Schweitzer possible presidential campaign, 2016/Federalism
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Judiciary
- In 2010, Brian Schweitzer appointed Judge Michael E. Wheat to the Montana Supreme Court. According to a 2012 Stanford University study, Wheat has a liberal leaning ideology. In the study, he received a campaign finance score (CFscore) of -1.16, which was more liberal than the average CF score of -0.87 that justices in Montana received.[1][2]
First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
- Brian Schweitzer criticized the Citizens United ruling during a June 2012 interview with Esquire. He said, "Now, what the Supreme Court is saying is, 'Yeah, you can bribe an American official.' What we're saying in this country now is that if you're an American corporation and you want to bribe an official somewhere in the world, do it in America, where it's legal. And then they say, you know, 'Free speech. Money is speech.' No, money is power. Don't screw around here. Let's just tell it the way it is: They're buying power. You'll see guys that have a business, and they employ a thousand people and they think they're pretty big stuff, and they'll say, 'Yeah, this ought to be okay, a corporation is a person. We want to function as a full person.' So they say, 'Yeah, Citizens United, that's a good thing.' 'You are a dumbass, sir, and I'll tell you why you are. Because the pharmaceutical companies and the military-industrial complex, and the insurance companies, they'll step on you like a big. The $500,000 that you can afford to put into the kitty to induce someone to vote your way? You are a piker.' That's the equivalent of buying someone one drink and thinking you're gonna sleep with them. It doesn't work that way."[3]
Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
- In 2011, Brian Schweitzer vetoed HB 271, which would have allowed all law-abiding individuals to carry a concealed weapon without a permit.[4]
- In 2009, Schweitzer signed HB 228 into law. The law protects "the right of Montanans to defend their lives and liberties, as provided in Article II, section 3, of the Montana Constitution, and their right to keep or bear arms in defense of their homes, persons, and property, as provided in Article II, section 12, of the Montana Constitution."[5]
- According to The New Republic, "In his 2008 run, Schweitzer was endorsed by the NRA with an 'A' rating and a personal visit by Wayne LaPierre for a campaign rally. Schweitzer signed an array of NRA-backed bills into law, including a 2009 'stand your ground' bill that the NRA called a 'victory.'"[6]
Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
- According to The Weekly Standard, "[I]n 2009, Schweitzer signed a law that exempts Montana-made firearms from federal regulations. 'It’s a gun bill, but it’s another way of demonstrating the sovereignty of the state of Montana,' he said after signing it."[7]
Recent news
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See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Montana Judicial Branch, "Supreme Court Justice Biographies, Justice Mike Wheat," accessed April 16, 2014
- ↑ Social Science Research Network, "State Supreme Court Ideology and 'New Style' Judicial Campaigns," accessed April 24, 2015
- ↑ Esquire, "Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer Talks Citizens United Sr.," accessed April 24, 2015
- ↑ Legiscan.com, "MT HB271," accessed April 24, 2015
- ↑ Montana.gov, "HB0228," accessed April 24, 2015
- ↑ The New Republic, "Brian Schweitzer, Would-Be Liberal Hero, is an NRA Darling," January 8, 2014
- ↑ Weekly Standard, "Schweitzer Takes Aim," December 23, 2013
