As Jo previewed (and I hinted at), Kenny Hulshof unveiled a package of ethics proposals today.

The take away news is that Hulshof now supports keeping campaign finance limits – he just wants them higher. But, he said a repeal of the limits would be better than the current system.

“The current system we have is broken,” he told reporters in Jefferson City. “Unlimited contributions is an improvement over the current system. There is a better alternative even yet.”

Hulshof had said he would sign a bill moving through the Legislature that would repeal the limits. Both his GOP primary opponent, State Treasurer Sarah Steelman, and his potential general election foe, Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon, oppose removing the limits.

Hulshof also discussed several other proposals. One would ban gifts from lobbyists to anyone who works in his administration. He also called on the legislature to ban gifts to all elected officials.

(Sen. Joan Bray and Rep. Rachel Bringer agree with him on this point, but their bills have not yet received committee hearings.)

Hulshof said the ban is modeled after federal guidelines. The ban would include one-on-one meals, but legislators could, for instance, attend a 25-person dinner or another “widely attended event.”

Hulshof also underscored that he would bid out all of the state’s license fee offices. But, as our own Tony Messenger reported, that process might mean that many current contract-holders will keep their contract.

The patronage system is “going to end under my administration,” Hulshof said today. “All offices will be bid. Period.”

Hulshof also called for an ethics task force that would meet during the first six months of 2009. The group would formulate other proposals that could be presented for the 2010 legislative session.