GOP group launches 'dark money' initiative

HELENA (AP) — A group of Republican lawmakers is launching plans for a ballot measure aimed at shedding light on so-called "dark money" in politics.

The effort is led by legislators who have been billing themselves as the "Responsible Republicans" in ongoing battles with conservative foes in the GOP ranks.

Some of the veteran lawmakers were targeted last year with attack mailers from anonymous groups in contentious GOP primary battles last year.

State Sen. Bruce Tutvedt of Kalispell said Monday that voters deserve to know where increasingly active out-of-state groups get their money.

The ballot initiative will be based in part on legislation from the past session that was killed by conservative GOP leaders. Those bill critics argued the restrictions were tilted to help Democrats and infringed on free speech rights.