Mo. Supreme Court declines to decide fundraising issue

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Missouri Supreme Court has taken a pass on whether politicians must return the unlimited donations they raised during the first six months of this year.

The Supreme Court last month reinstated Missouri's campaign contribution limits while striking down a 2006 law that had removed them.

The court then sought suggestions about whether it should apply its ruling retroactively -- essentially whether candidates should be forced to return millions of dollars raised above the caps.

But the Supreme Court has declined to decide that matter. Instead, it has issued an opinion saying that the Missouri Ethics Commission should decide whether candidates must refund the contributions.