CRG NETWORK V. GAB

CRG NETWORK V. GAB

Case Name: CRG Network v. Government Accountability Board

Type of Case: Free Speech; campaign finance

Court: U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin

Case Number: 14-CV-719

Filed On: June 23, 2013

Current Status: Victory!  Law declared unconstitutional

Prior to our victory in this case, Wisconsin law imposed a hard limit on the total dollar amount a candidate for state office may accept in donations from political committees.  For example, a candidate for the State Senate could accept no more than a total of $15,525 from all committees and a candidate for the Assembly may accept no more than a total of $7,763.  That means that a candidate could accept contributions from the first few committees that want to support her, but later contributions, no matter how small, must be refused.

WILL filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging that law.  The lawsuit was filed on behalf of CRG Network, a PAC whose mission is to educate citizens and promote the election of candidates who are fiscally responsible.  CRG Network attempted to make small donations to three such candidates, only to have their donations returned (in whole or in part) as a result of the law in question.  Judge Randa granted a temporary injunction while the case was pending.

On October 15, 2015, the court issued a ruling declaring the limitations unconstitutional.

CASE DOCUMENTS

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