A voter advocacy group, a union and Democrat lawmakers are asking a judge to void a new Arizona law expanding the ability of some groups to make anonymous "dark money'' contributions to political campaigns.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Arizona Advocacy Network, the Brick-workers and Allied Crafter-workers Union and more than two dozen Democratic lawmakers.
It charges the Republican-controlled Legislature acted illegally when it moved to exempt some organizations, specifically those registered with the Arizona Corporation Commission, from laws which require them to register before they can spend money on political campaigns.
Attorney Jim Barton said the new law allows certain entities to make unlimited contributions to political parties.
"With this new way of basically being able to give unlimited sums to the party, and then the party can spend unlimited sums on its nominees, that evades that campaign finance reporting requirement of the constitution," Barton said.
A spokesman for the Secretary of State's Office, which enforces the campaign finance laws, said the lawsuit is being studied.