The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the ACLU of Louisiana filed a lawsuit asking a federal judge to stop the payments of state taxpayer money to two Louisiana churches, asserting that the state's budget bill violates the Establishment Clause. There was no explanation of the purpose of the funds in the earmark to two churches and no restrictions are placed on permissible use of the grants, then theoretically the money could be used for religious purposes. According to the ACLU press release; The state's general appropriations bill, HB1, signed into law last month, unconstitutionally directs taxpayer dollars in the amounts of $100,000 to Stonewall Baptist Church in Bossier City and $20,000 to Shreveport Christian Church. The grants were not subject to any oversight or competitive bidding process, and the bill offers no purpose or justification for the challenged earmarks. According to the ACLU, while the state can, in certain circumstances, provide funding to religious organizations for some programs that provide non-religious social services, the First Amendment squarely bars the government from funneling direct, unrestricted, cash payments to churches.