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Oklahoma Ethics Commission Suspends Fundraising Rules After Lawsuit

Oklahoma State Capitol
LLudo
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Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Oklahoma state capitol

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission has voted to suspend enforcement of two new agency rules that prompted a federal lawsuit by the Oklahoma Democratic Party.

The five-member commission voted Friday to suspend the rules that prohibit any fundraising or distribution of election materials on state-owned property.

The move comes after the Oklahoma Democratic Party filed a lawsuit earlier this week, arguing the new rules are an improper restraint on free speech in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

Oklahoma Ethics Commission Executive Director Lee Slater says the panel's vote should make the lawsuit moot.

Oklahoma Democratic Party Chairman Mark Hammons says in a statement he was pleased with the commission's decision and hopes it will adopt appropriate rules on a permanent basis.

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