Ind. Right to Life, broadcast company suing State over political donation restrictions – wpta21.com

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA21) - A lawsuit filed in federal court seeks to set aside part of Indiana's Election Code relating to corporate contributions to political action committees, of "PACs."

The plaintiffs are Indiana Right to Life Victory Fund and Sarkes Tarzian, Inc., a broadcaster whose holdings include radio stations WAJI (Majic 95.1), WGBJ (ALT 102.3) and WLDE (Classic Hits 101.7), all serving the Fort Wayne market, as well as television and radio stations in Indianapolis and Bloomington; Reno, Nev.; and Chattanooga, Tenn.

The suit was filed on Thursday in the U.S. District Court - Southern District of Indiana, which encompasses Indianapolis as well as all of the southern part of the state.

Sarkes Tarzian is headquartered in Bloomington.

The Right to Life group and broadcast company are seeking Court intervention to lift certain limits that apply to corporate contributions to PACs and how they may be used. Those limits are outlined in Indiana state code, and vary depending on a number of factors involved.

The lawsuit -- which names Indiana Secretary of State Holli Sullivan, Attorney General Todd Rokita, Election Commission Chair Paul Okeson and others as defendants -- claims the regulations infringe on the plaintiffs' First and Fourteenth Amendment Rights.

Those Amendments concern free expression and equal protection under the laws of the United States.

Within the documents filed with the Court, plaintiffs' attorneys state that: IRTL Victory Fund wants to solicit and accept unlimited contributions for the purpose of making independent expenditures. However, corporations are prohibited from making a contribution to IRTL Victory Fund unless the contribution (1) does not exceed the contribution limits and (2) is designated for disbursement to a specific candidate or committee."

Sarkes Tarzian, the lawsuit explains, "wants to make a $10,000 contribution to IRTL Victory Fund, earmarked for the purpose of independent expenditures."

The Bopp Law Firm represents IRTL and Sarkes Tarzian. It is the same firm that filed suit against Indiana University this past summer on behalf of students seeking to overturn the school's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

ABC21 has reached out to three attorneys with the firm seeking additional context on the lawsuit, and to the Indiana Office of Attorney General for its response.

Visit link:

Ind. Right to Life, broadcast company suing State over political donation restrictions - wpta21.com