Project Vote Smart Lays Off Six Employees

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Employees of Project Vote Smart say the nonprofit political research organization laid off six employees without notice over the past week, while a member of the organization's executive board says the board is discussing selling its 50-acre ranch near Philipsburg and moving the operation to a university.

Staff member Andrew Bennett tells the Missoulian (http://bit.ly/1lgGkob ) he and another staff member were laid off March 19, five days after four other staffers were let go. Another employee resigned over the abrupt layoffs.

Project Vote Smart was founded in 1992 by Richard Kimball to collect and distribute information on candidates for public office all over the country. Kimball's wife, Adelaide Elm, said the organization is cutting its operating budget due to a decrease in contributions.