UPDATED: Blunt does away with contribution limits
Dems official response, in e-mailed statements.
“We will soon have the worst of both worlds,” said Assistant House Minority Leader J.C. Kuessner, D-Eminence. “Politicians can take unlimited amounts from deep-pocketed donors while still being able to hide money from sources they don’t want voters know about.”
“Governor Blunt today told Missouri voters that their wishes don’t matter, especially when they prevent politicians from raking in huge amounts of special-interest cash,” said House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, D-Independence. “The will of nearly 1.2 million Missouri voters was undone by just 107 lawmakers and the governor. Lawmakers who supported repealing the state’s campaign contribution limits will have some explaining to do come November.”
“This is a sad day for everyone who believes that regular Missourians, not wealthy special interests, should have the most powerful voice in electing our leaders,” said Attorney General and would-be governor Jay Nixon. ”As Governor, I would have vetoed this bill the moment it hit my desk and protected the integrity of our campaign finance system. By signing this bill, Gov. Blunt has cleared the way for big corporations and wealthy interests to give millions to candidates. It’s a clear step in the wrong direction. Needless to say, Missourians are ready for change.”
Earlier, 15:07 p.m.:
Gov. Matt Blunt’s office just sent word that governor has officially signed the campaign finance bill doing away with Missouri’s political contribution limits.
With this final move, political candidates should be able to begin receiving unlimited contributions August 28. The previous limits held donors to $325 to $1,350 per candidate per election cycle, depending on the race.
The state House passed the bill in one its final acts as the session wrapped up in may.
Republican proponents said that the limits created secrecy in the campaign finance system, because rich donors could effectively circumvent the law by pushing money through various political committees. Repealing the limits, then, would create transparency because of basic reporting requirements on all donations, supporters said.
One particular new requirement says that all donations above $5,000 must be reported within 48 hours.
Blunt spox Rich Chrismer issued the following statement today:
“Gov. Matt Blunt has championed open and easy access to information…
“By signing this legislation, the governor is making Missouri’s campaign finance system more open and transparent. This legislation enhances disclosure and will help limit the amount of money funneled to politicians through political committees by making it easier for members of the press and the public to find abuses…”
Democrats (and some Republicans) opposed the measure, labeling it simply a move to flood campaigns with money. campaign coffers. Moreover, many complained that they believed Missouri public was against the bill.
Chrismer, in the e-mailed statement, took a direct shot at Attorney General and would-be governor Jay Nixon, by repeating GOP allegations that Nixon’s campaign accepted some $19,000 that was allegedly funneled through various political groups from Ameren, when Nixon was investigating the company in 2006.
The Missouri Ethics Commission investigated the Republican complaint and ultimately called the allegations were unfounded; Nixon returned the money to the groups anyway.
Koster supported that bill