Zoeller
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Legal Newsline) - An Indiana senator, in a letter last week, asked Attorney General Greg Zoeller if a bill before the Fort Wayne City Council banning certain political donations is legal.
The measure would make it illegal for city contractors to make political donations to city politicians.
According to the Journal Gazette, Republican Sen. Tom Wyss sent a letter to Zoeller's office Thursday about the proposed bill. The council recently introduced the legislation for discussion.
Wyss told the newspaper that he was contacted by a council member about the measure, then did some of his own research on its legality.
The state's Legislative Services Agency and the state election board both told him the bill is not permitted under state law.
The next step was the Attorney General's Office, he said.
"I don't want to see taxpayers pay stupid tax money to defend a suit," Wyss told the Journal Gazette.
A spokesman for the attorney general told the newspaper Tuesday that Zoeller hasn't decided if he will issue an opinion.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by e-mail at jessica@legalnewsline.com.