Post by Logan on Jul 5, 2016 5:50:12 GMT -6
Michigan unions have won a preliminary injunction to block the state from enforcing a new political fundraising payroll deduction law that a federal judge deemed a form of “viewpoint discrimination.”
U.S. District Judge Linda A. Parker on Thursday ruled unions were likely to succeed on First Amendment arguments in their lawsuit challenging the state law, which prohibits companies from collecting and transferring voluntary contributions to unions’ political action funds.
“In short, the Court finds that by enacting PA 269, Michigan has placed an obstacle — bolstered by the threat of a felony charge — in the path of organizations’ and employees’ efforts to solicit and raise funds necessary to engage in political speech,” wrote Parker, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, a Democrat.
Parker said the law does “not apply evenhandedly” because it allows a company to make employee payroll deductions for contributions to a nonprofit group of which it is a member, such as the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, but not a union.
Read more: www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2016/07/01/unions-win-injunction-blocking-michigan-fundraising-law/86600888/
U.S. District Judge Linda A. Parker on Thursday ruled unions were likely to succeed on First Amendment arguments in their lawsuit challenging the state law, which prohibits companies from collecting and transferring voluntary contributions to unions’ political action funds.
“In short, the Court finds that by enacting PA 269, Michigan has placed an obstacle — bolstered by the threat of a felony charge — in the path of organizations’ and employees’ efforts to solicit and raise funds necessary to engage in political speech,” wrote Parker, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, a Democrat.
Parker said the law does “not apply evenhandedly” because it allows a company to make employee payroll deductions for contributions to a nonprofit group of which it is a member, such as the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, but not a union.
Read more: www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2016/07/01/unions-win-injunction-blocking-michigan-fundraising-law/86600888/