LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Republicans planned to file a federal lawsuit Wednesday to block Democrats from spending $440,000 on battleground races that could determine which party controls the Michigan Senate.
The suit, a copy of which was provided to The Associated Press, alleges incumbent Democrats exceeded the annual $20,000-per-person limit that individuals can donate to legislative caucuses, in this case the Senate Democratic Fund.
Republicans hope to get an injunction issued by a judge that would block much of the Democrats' spending in the final week of a hard-fought campaign season.
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Democrats, who are trying to win control of the Michigan Senate for the first time since 1983, have argued the practice is legal and said two Republicans did the same thing in 2002. Republicans have responded that those cases involved reporting errors, and a campaign finance expert has said Senate Democrats should return the money.
http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-38/1162400047262700.xml&storylist=newsmichigan