Oct. 22, 2004, 6:55AM
PAC ordered to stop using corporate cash
2 candidates allege Republican group in violation of campaign law
By JANET ELLIOTT
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
AUSTIN - Democratic legislative candidates Thursday celebrated a temporary restraining order freezing the corporate cash of a Republican political action committee until after the Nov. 2 election.
State District Judge Paul Davis issued the temporary order Wednesday against Associated Republicans of Texas, ordering the political fund-raising group to stop soliciting, accepting and spending corporate money until a temporary injunction hearing Nov. 3.
"Once again, Democrats with nothing to offer voters are attempting to throw up a smokescreen two weeks before the election," said Pat Robbins, associate director of ART, a long-time GOP political action committee dedicated to winning majorities in the Legislature.
"When they can't win at the ballot box, they sue somebody," he said.
Two candidates, Bob Glaze of Gilmer and David Leibowitz of San Antonio, alleged that the PAC was violating a Texas law prohibiting corporations and unions from funding political candidates.
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