The lawsuit was filed last month by mayoral candidate Doug Greco.
AUSTIN, Texas — The city of Austin can continue to enforce financial restrictions on political contributions from out-of-town supporters, according to a federal judge.
The ruling was decided Oct. 11 after mayoral candidate and former Austin ISD teacher Doug Greco tried to block the ruling, according to the Austin American-Statesman’s KVUE media partner.
Greco filed a lawsuit last month claiming the restrictions limit donations from outside the Texas capital to a total of $47,000. The lawsuit says the ruling “totally silences and excludes from participation” supporters in other parts of the country.
Greco believes this donation cap is illegal and violates Austinites’ free speech rights by preventing donations in excess of the cap. He also said it would give an unfair advantage to candidates who are already financially well-off or who have lived in the city for a long time.
Despite Greco’s claims, Statesman said the lawsuit was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Robert Pittman.
How did the Greco case begin?
Greco filed the lawsuit after an ethics complaint was filed by Betsy Greenberg, vice chair of the Zoning Platform Committee and former member of the Ethics Review Commission (ERC). is.
Mr. Greenberg argued that Greco exceeded the current contribution limits, but Mr. Pittman said, “This court refrains from making a constitutional determination while Greco’s case is pending in the ERC.”
Both final hearings are scheduled for Oct. 23 at the ERC, according to Pittman’s order.
Although the political contribution restriction lawsuit was dismissed, there is a possibility that further lawsuits will be filed against the ruling.
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