GOP asks court to rethink decision on contributions

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Republican Party is appealing a federal court ruling that upheld the state's limits on how much political parties can give to candidates.

The Republican Party on Friday asked the entire nine-member 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis to reconsider an earlier decision by three members of the court.

Following direction from the U.S. Supreme Court, the three-member appeals panel ruled Nov. 2 that the limits were constitutional, reversing a September 2000 ruling that they were not.

The motion for a rehearing claims the state has no valid interest to enforce the limits and there is no evidence that blocking contributions would prevent corruption.

"Any suggestion that the Missouri party limits prevent corruption is also inconsistent with the record," the Republican Party said in its motion.

The three-judge appeal panel's latest ruling came after the U.S Supreme Court in August ordered it to reconsider the earlier decision that struck down the limits -- approved by lawmakers in 1994.