Monday, December 14, 2009

ACLU fights state's plan to raise lobbying fees 186%

CHICAGO -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois is asking a federal court to block the state from collecting sharply increased lobbying fees.

Under legislation due to take effect Jan. 1, the annual fee most lobbyists pay when they register jumps to $1,000 from $350.

The ACLU says in a lawsuit filed Friday that the increase represents an unconstitutional tax on speech.

The suit asks U.S. District Judge Joan Gottschall to block the state from collecting the additional amount from nonprofit organizations. It also says the legislature was wrong to make an exception for the news media and religious organizations.

-- Associated Press
Source:chicagotribune.com/

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