September 16, 2009 04:08 AM UTC

Montana-based 501(c)4 takes aim at Markey

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• by: BobMoore

(Shires, Gessler and Musgrave–oh my! – promoted by Colorado Pols)

Western Tradition Partnership, a Montana-based 501(c)4 that was active in Garfield County in 2008, announced today that it was sending out mailers targeting Betsy Markey for her cap and trade vote.

Details at my Coloradoan blog: https://bit.ly/616oo

To the best of my knowledge, this is the first 501(c)4 activity targeting Markey, who benefited greatly by anti-Musgrave (c)4s in 2008.

Some of you Polsters are more up on WTP than me, so please feel free to add to the community knowledge here.

Despite claims to being “primarily supported by individual grassroots donors,” it has the look and feel of a political group funded by the extractive industries. But as a (c)4, it doesn’t have to disclose donors.

The group was formed in 2008 by a couple of prominent Montana Republicans, purportedly to focus on state issues rather than national ones. But Colorado secretary of state records show WTP was incorporated here about the same time.

The original registered agent was Scott Shires.

https://www.sos.state.co.us/biz…

The registered agent was changed in April to Hackstaff Gessler LLC.

https://www.sos.state.co.us/biz…

The group’s executive director and national director of membership is Jacob Leis, a former campaign and congressional staffer for Marilyn Musgrave.