BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union’s North Dakota chapter says a measure aimed at ethics reform in the state violates the First Amendment.
Measure 1 would amend the North Dakota constitution to ban foreign money from state elections, restrict lobbying and create an independent ethics commission, among other provisions.
Backers call it an “anti-corruption” measure aimed at transparency.
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But the ACLU says the measure is “poorly written” and restricts “political speech and advocacy.”
The state’s largest business organization also announced this month that it will campaign to help defeat the measure.
The Greater North Dakota Chamber says it would be difficult to comply with the measure because it is too broadly worded.
Campaign filings show supporters of the initiative have attracted nearly $420,000, much of it from left-leaning out-of-state groups.
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