Missouri high court denies appeal on campaign-finance limits

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A Missouri initiative to reinstate campaign contribution limits cleared its final legal hurdle to appear on the November ballot.

The state Supreme Court on Monday turned down a request to hear a challenge of the proposed constitutional amendment.

The proposal known as Constitutional Amendment 2 would limit contributions to candidates to $2,600 per election and cap donations to political parties at $25,000.

Missouri's previous campaign contribution limits were repealed in 2008. Since then, some donors routinely have given five- and six-figure checks.

The Supreme Court let stand an appeals court decision from last week, which said opponents must wait until after the election to raise claims the measure violates free speech and association rights.