From Tulsa World: Attorneys for the city of Tulsa, Okla., filed documents this week to move a lawsuit to U.S. District Court, stating that the plaintiffs' claim of a violation of their First Amendment rights establishes federal jurisdiction.

The complaint, which was filed June 22, takes issue with an April 1 executive order that says the city charter's prohibition of active campaigning by firefighters in municipal elections includes speaking at rallies, picketing and publicly soliciting votes for candidates.

During the 2009 municipal elections, some city employees, particularly firefighters, were actively involved in campaigns, going door-to-door to try to get some city councilors ousted.

Mayor Dewey Bartlett's order reversed a policy under former Mayor Kathy Taylor that had allowed city employees to participate in campaigns as long as they were off duty and out of uniform. Read the entire article here.