Civil groups join forces in lawsuit over speaker's race law
AUSTIN (AP) - Civil liberties and advocacy groups that often oppose each other joined forces Wednesday, suing to overturn Texas' ban on organizations spending money to influence the election of the speaker of the state House of Representatives.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and the notably conservative Free Market Foundation and the Texas Eagle Forum Political Action Committee sued in federal court in Austin. They hope to block the law before the March 4 primary.
The groups called the 1973 law a direct assault on freedom of speech.
"To anyone with even the slightest interest in the First Amendment, this law is a disgrace," said Kelly Shackelford, president of the Free Market Foundation.
The law bans organizations or groups from spending "anything of value" to influence the election of the speaker, the House leader who is chosen by legislators every two years.
The law also prevents an individual from spending more than $100 on correspondence to aid or defeat the election of a speaker candidate.
The penalty for a violation is up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
