HJ11 Testimony- Transparency in political funding

I support HJ11

see Bill here: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2888?open_tab=bill

Hello, My name is Red MoonEagle Audiss, I use They/Them/She/Her pronouns; I claim non-gender identifications. 

I live in Belgrade, MT. I am a graduate of the University of Montana, and a long time resident since 1998. I have spent most of my adult live contributing to the communities I have lived in, the economy and now I am stepping into a different role; a voice for democracy in our state. 

I stand before you today as a person of intersectionality—one of the many Montanans whose existence is shaped by diverse histories, identities, and struggles. I do not belong to a political party, for my education in the history of that path is in opposition to the facts. 

What you see when you look at me is a white-presenting woman. But what you don’t see—what is invisible yet deeply relevant—is my full story.

I am of mixed-race heritage; black, indigenous, European and Northern European Steppe. I am a descendant of enslaved people, of penal colonists, of refugees who fled starvation, war, and poverty. My ancestors, fought both for and against this country—in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and every conflict up through Desert Storm.

I was raised with a deep, unwavering sense of patriotism—not just as a sentiment, but as a responsibility.

That patriotism was instilled in me by my father, my uncles, my grandfather, and my great-grandfather, all of whom served this country. They served in the Marines, Army, Navy and Air Force. They believed in duty, honor, and country. They believed in defending the Constitution and the ideals in modern contexts that it represents.

My great-grandfather was a South Dakota State Senator, and he taught me that public service is not about power—it’s about people. He believed that democracy thrives only when every voice is heard, every vote counts, and every person has a stake in their government. Unfortunately, as his descendant I recognize and accept the deep wounding his racism against black and indigenous peoples created both in his policy participation and his family. 

My father was a "boomer"; educated in America and Europe in the post WWII era. I grew up learning from the stories of my father about the race riots and how in his lifetime the continuation of the imbecile(ic)  attachment to race, religion and cultural “superiority” of the “white elite”. He was pivotal as a third generation immigrant, patriot and deeply dedicated military officer in my learning. He encouraged critical thinking, research and understanding of all “sides” of a perspective and how fear and greed can motivate both great change for good and also bad. 

In 1987, under President Reagan, the Elimination of the The Fairness Doctrine (1949–1987) which ensured that radio and TV stations had to provide balanced coverage of public affairs and present differing viewpoints. It was created because airwaves were considered public property, and broadcasters had a responsibility to serve the public interest. It helped prevent political bias in news reporting, ensuring Americans had access to diverse perspectives.

And 

The deregulation era, creating more corporate-friendly policies, led to the rise of monopolies, the weakening of consumer protections, and the privatization of critical public utilities. 

These were two key topics that my deeply Republican Father used to teach as an example of how important and fragile our democracy is- and how important our vote and participation in our democracy is. He was always willing to discuss how some laws protect our democracy and how others tear it down.

These values shaped my childhood. They shaped the way I see my country.

And that’s why I’m writing/speaking here today.

Because I see the dismantling of democracy, and I recognize my own intersectionality of privilege and can no longer be silent.

I cannot stand by as our elections are bought and sold to the highest bidder. I cannot stand by as dark money drowns out the voices of real Montanans.

That is why HJ 11 is so important.

Montana’s Legacy: A State That Stood for Fairness

Montana was once a purple state, a place where people, not corporations, decided elections. We had strong protections against corruption, and those protections kept our politics balanced, our elections fair, and our voices heard.

This wasn’t by accident. It was because, in 1912, Montanans stood up and passed the Corrupt Practices Act, one of the strongest anti-corruption laws in the country.

Why? Because they had seen what happens when corporations control elections. The Copper Kings—wealthy mining tycoons—bought politicians and ran Montana like their personal business. So many other states are run like oligarchies, not democracies. 

So, the people fought back. They demanded a government that worked for them—not for the highest bidder.

And for almost a century, Montana led the nation in fair elections and clean government.

But then, in 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down our anti-corruption laws, ruling in American Tradition Partnership v. Bullock that Montana had to follow Citizens United—a decision that unleashed unlimited corporate money into our elections.

Since then:*Dark money groups flood our elections with untraceable funds.* Campaigns are more about money than ideas.*Montana has become more extreme, more partisan, and less representative of the people.

We have lost our balance. We have lost our purple.

What HJ 11 Does & Why We Must Act Now

HJ 11 is not a law—it is a message. It tells Congress that Montana wants a constitutional amendment to take big money out of politics.

It does three key things:

Clarifies that the Constitution protects human beings—not corporations.Allows states to regulate campaign spending—so billionaires and super PACs don’t control our elections.

Demands transparency—so voters know exactly who is funding political ads.

If we don’t act, corporate influence will only grow stronger, and everyday Montanans will continue to be drowned out.

My Personal Call to Action

I did not come here to be comfortable.

I did not come here as a leader, or an activist. 

I am here because I refuse to stay silent in the face of the dismantling of our Democracy by those who worship money, by those who continue to feed fear and division through scare tactics and othering. 

I grew up believing, reading, learning about our history and the ideals of  democracy, fairness, and the right of every person to have a voice. 

But I also grew up seeing the hypocrisy of our systems—how we claim to be a government of the people, by the people, for the people, yet allow money, power, and privilege to dictate whose voices actually matter.

For most of my life, I believed my voice didn’t matter. That politics was for someone else. That change was for someone else. I was told, you are too passionate, too honest and too transparent to “survive” in politics. And I realized through much personal work, becoming trauma informed, and facing my biases in privilege- that it is my duty to speak. 

I also realized something—if we don’t act, if we don’t fight for democracy, we lose it.

I am standing here because I refuse to be silent.

And I ask you: Will you refuse to be silent too?

Montana was once a place where elections were fair, voices were equal, and politicians worked for the people.

We can be that place again.

HJ 11 is a step toward restoring balance, fairness, and democracy.

This is our moment to take a stand.

Because if we don’t—who will?

Thank you.