AUSTIN, Texas — The city of Austin can continue to enforce its finance limit on political donations from out-of-town supporters, according to a federal judge.
The ruling was decided on Oct. 11 after mayoral candidate and former Austin ISD teacher Doug Greco attempted to stop it, according to KVUE's media partners at the Austin-American Statesman.
Greco filed a lawsuit last month, stating that the limit stops donations at $47,000 total from anyone outside the Texas capital. The ruling "completely silences and excludes from participation" from supporters in other parts of the country, according to the suit.
Greco believes this contribution cap is illegal and violates Austinites' freedom of speech by preventing contributions past said limit. He also said it offers an unfair benefit to candidates who are already financially prosperous and to those who have lived in the city for a lengthy timeframe.
Despite Greco's claims, the Statesman said the suit was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman.
How did Greco's lawsuit begin?
Greco filed the lawsuit in part after an ethics complaint was made against him by Betsy Greenburg, the vice president of the Zoning and Platform Commission Vice President and a previous Ethics Review Commission (ERC) member.
Greenburg claimed Greco went above the current contribution limit, but Pitman said, "This Court will abstain from issuing a constitution decision while Greco's case is pending before the ERC."
Pitman's order states both final hearings are set for Oct. 23 at the ERC.
While the political donation limit lawsuit was dismissed, action against the ruling could still be taken going forward.