AUSTIN (AP) - The Texas Association of Business at least temporarily won't have to disclose its
corporate donors who provided almost $2 million for an ad blitz in 24 legislative campaigns last fall.
State District Judge Patrick Keel of Travis County signed the ruling Tuesday. The association does not
have to identify the donors during pretrial discovery until a Feb. 13 hearing on the group's motion to end
a lawsuit brought by Democratic candidate James Sylvester.
Sylvester sued the association after Republican Jack Stick defeated him for a Travis County seat in
the Texas House of Representatives.
Sylvester claims the group broke state election law by financing the ads without disclosing who paid
for them.
The association argues the ads were exempt from state regulation because they did not advocate the
election or defeat of any candidate.
Keel's ruling is one step in what is expected to be a long legal battle.
The business association, which has touted the effectiveness of its ads in last year's campaigns, has
declined to disclose the sources of the money for the television commercials and mailings. The group
said it was educating voters but not electioneering.
State law prohibits the use of corporate money in political campaigns.
