HELENA, Mont. (CN) - The Montana Sports Shooting Association and its president lost their bid in the Montana Supreme Court to stop the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks from lobbying the Legislature against their interests.
Justice Morris refused to enjoin department employees from lobbying, despite a state law barring Fish, Wildlife and Parks staff from using the agency or their jobs to influence politics.
The agency acknowledged that it routinely lobbies the Legislature, but claimed the ban on political activity was intended to cover only political elections, not all political activity.
The state high court agreed and rejected the sports shooting association's broad interpretation of the law, citing a later law requiring that the Fish, Wildlife and Parks not only report to legislative committees, but also make recommendations.
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