Howie Rich's front group, Montanans In Action

These people don't like you any more than New York City multi-millionaire Howie Rich does.

Trevis Butcher
Winifred, MT. Home-school activist. Director and key spokesperson for Montanans In Action, the front group for Howie Rich's three bad initiatives (see page 9).

Butcher travels the state with a giant pink pig, representing Mon-tana teachers and public employees.

Butcher's Rolling Hills Band (Butcher, his wife, and his kids) was paid $7,500 for gathering signatures on CI-97, CI-98, and I-154.

When MEA-MFT President Eric Feaver asked in a public debate who the initiatives' "grassroots" supporters are, Butcher said, "You're looking at him."

Scott Mendenhall
Clancy, MT. State chair, Montanans In Action.

Mendenhall is a Montana legislator, running for reelection this fall.

Mendenhall is trying to distance himself from the three bad initiatives, CI-97, CI-98, and I-154. But he is a key mover and shaker in the effort to pass them. He proclaimed in a letter to the editor that he "birthed" CI-97. He was paid $77.25 for gathering signatures on I-154.

Sheila Hogan is running against Mendenhall for the legislature. MEA-MFT has recommended her.

Joe Balyeat
Belgrade, MT. A major spokesperson for CI-97, CI-98, I-154.

Balyeat is a state senator and long-time right-wing activist. In 1998 he was the chief promoter of CI-75, an initiative similar to this year's CI-97.

Balyeat's son, Dan, was paid $5,855.15 for gathering signatures on CI-97, CI-98, and I-154. Another relative, Bob Balyeat, was paid $3,722.13.

Balyeat finally admitted in a public debate on Sept. 21 that Howie Rich is the key funder of Montanans In Action.