Ethics Commission delays contribution limit decision

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- After hearing conflicting advice from Democratic and Republican party attorneys, the Missouri Ethics Commission chose Thursday to wait another month before deciding how to enforce a state Supreme Court ruling reinstating campaign contribution limits.

The commission is positioning itself to conduct a candidate-by-candidate analysis -- first determining whether candidates received excess contributions, then following its normal procedures for candidates who claim they are entitled to keep the money.

The Supreme Court on July 19 struck down a law that had repealed Missouri's campaign contribution limits as of the start of 2007.

During the first six months in which unlimited donations were allowed, 119 candidates -- running for everything from county commission to governor -- collected nearly $7.2 million in contributions above the old limits, according to an analysis by Ethics Commission staff.

Topping that list was Republican Gov. Matt Blunt, with nearly $3.9 million in donations above the repealed donation limit of $1,275 per election for statewide offices. Second was Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon, who collected nearly $1.3 million in over-the-limit donations for his gubernatorial campaign.

Democratic Party attorney Don Downing argued to commissioners Thursday that all candidates should have to return excess contributions.

Republican Party attorney Robert Hess countered that no candidates should have to return the money and that the commission should wait until next year to decide the issue in order to give the Legislature a chance to act first.

Instead, commissioners chose to wait to act until early November. That will allow time for staff to analyze campaign finance reports due Oct. 15 to see if candidates received any additional over-the-limit contributions between July 1 and the date of the Supreme Court ruling.