CAMPAIGN FINANCE: PARTIES AT ODDS OVER CAMPAIGN LIMITS

While Democrats say they will abide by state campaign limits thrown out by a federal court, Republicans are praising the decision as providing political challengers with a better chance to unseat incumbents.

A three-member federal appeals court Tuesday declared the campaign spending limits of Proposition A, a measure approved by 74 percent of Missouri voters in 1994, as an unconstitutional infringement of political speech. Attorney General Jay Nixon, a Democrat, plans to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

However, Democrats, who hold five of six statewide offices, said they will voluntarily stick to the Proposition A limits if Republicans do the same.

"We have said repeatedly that we must reduce the influence of special interests, PACs and big money in politics," said Gov. Mel Carnahan. "In fact the people of Missouri voted overwhelmingly to limit the role of money in campaigns when they passed the $300 limit last year. We are calling on our opponents to join us in agreeing to abide by the $300 contribution limit."

Republicans, however, counter that the limit gives the Democratic incumbents in statewide office an unfair advantage.

"Democrats and their political allies funded the campaign to pass Proposition A in an attempt to make it impossible to defeat Mel Carnahan," said John C. "Woody" Cozad, Missouri Republican Party Chairman. "Thankfully, the federal courts caught them with their hands in the constitutional cookie jar and put a stop to it."

One candidate who hopes to unseat Carnahan next year, state Sen. Bill Kenney, R-Lee's Summitt, said he is sympathetic with voters' desire to reduce the impact of money on campaigns and for the moment plans to stick to the $300 per person limit.

"When you have 74 percent approval it shows most Missourians' are tired of government as usual," Kenney said. However, once the smoke settles and any appeal is disposed of, he will abide by whatever maximum the law allows.

"As a challenger it is much harder to go against an incumbent with the limits," Kenney said.

Secretary of State Becky Cook, a Cape Girardeau Democrat, said that since she has been running her first campaign for state office under the assumption of the $300 limit, she sees no need to change. Cook was appointed to the office last year by Carnahan after the ouster of Judy Moriarty.

"I firmly believe contribution limits must be a part of the political process for us to truly reform government," Cook said. "We must start by reducing the impact of money on the political process."

Cook has already received donations from over 1,700 people and expects to reach her goal of raising $250,000 by the end of the year.

While Rep. David Schwab, R-Jackson, said low contribution limits have the unintended effect of restricting access to public office to the rich and politically connected.

"I just think what we have a tendency to do when we restrict contributions really is in favor of incumbents or someone with a lot of money," Schwab said. "The Constitution can't restrict how much of a person's own money they can spend."