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District Judge Catherine Lemon granted a temporary injunction Tuesday against Amendment 54, which had been opposed by business interests and labor unions on the grounds it impinged on freedom of speech.

The Denver Post said Wednesday the ruling would likely prompt a flood of contributions from individuals who had been unwilling to write checks under the amendment.

The amendment, which took effect in January, bars anyone tied to a public-employees union or an entity that receives a no-bid government contract greater than $100,000 from contributing to political parties or candidates.

Lemon said the state had to convince her the new law was in response to a "sufficiently important" threat.

"In my mind, it's just not a close case", Lemon said after Tuesday's lengthy hearing.

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