Nixon urges campaign contribution limits

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon on Thursday called his state's ethics laws among the weakest in the nation and urged the Legislature to change that in its next session.

Nixon, accompanied by Kansas City-area lawmakers from both parties, said at a news conference there are several ethics reform proposals floating around the state capital that are worthy of discussion. He called upon the Legislature to look at those proposals and come up with a bill that would restore some of the campaign finance restrictions that were gutted in 2008.

"Anytime that Washington, D.C., has rules that are more transparent and accountable than we've got here in Missouri, you know you've got a problem," Nixon said.

Missouri has some of the loosest ethics and campaign finance limits in the U.S. It is the only state with the trio of no campaign contribution limits, no lobbyist gift limits and no revolving-door policy preventing lawmakers from becoming lobbyists immediately after leaving office.

Supporters of Missouri's current approach say the lack of contribution limits makes it easier for the public to follow the money, since big donors have no need to funnel cash in numerous smaller sums through a variety of committees to aid their favored candidate.

"I firmly believe the single most destructive force to our political system and the public's trust in that system are the unlimited sums of money pouring into the campaign accounts of individual candidates," Nixon said. "A significant majority of Missourians share this belief."

Missouri Ethics Commission records show that Nixon, who is barred by term limits from seeking a third term, has received 30 contributions worth more than $5,000 so far this year. Of those, 16 contributions exceeded $10,000 each.

During his State of the State address in January, the Democratic governor called upon the Republican-led Legislature to reinstate contribution limits and -- if they didn't do so -- vowed to support an initiative placing contribution limits on the ballot. The Legislature didn't vote on the proposed limits.

Republican Sen. Will Kraus, of Lee's Summit, has proposed legislation for the 2014 session that would cap individual contributions at $10,000 to candidates for statewide offices, $2,500 to those seeking a seat in the state Senate and $1,000 to people running for the Missouri House. Limits would be adjusted every other year, based on the rate of inflation.

In addition, the measure would ban statewide officeholders, lawmakers and their staffs and families from receiving gifts from lobbyists valued at more than $50.

Kraus said Wednesday he knows of four other senators who either have or are going to propose similar ethics measures.

"Whether it's my bill or one of their bills, I believe we're going to have a serious discussion this year and hopefully we can compromise and get something done," Kraus said.

Missouri has had an on-again-off-again experience with campaign contribution limits. A court struck down a 1994 law approved by voters, but the U.S. Supreme Court later upheld separate contribution limits that had been passed by lawmakers.

Since then, the Republican-led Legislature has twice repealed the limits. A 2006 law removed contribution limits for about six months before being struck down on procedural grounds by the state Supreme Court. The Legislature then repealed the contributions limits again in 2008.

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Associated Press writers David A. Lieb and Chris Blank contributed to this report from Jefferson City.