© 2024 University of Missouri - KBIA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Mo. House Democrats To Revive Ethics Legislation

House Democrats say they’ll again try to get campaign contribution limits restored in Missouri when next year’s regular legislative session begins.

The Missouri Supreme Courtreinstated caps on campaign contributions in 2007, but a 2008 law removed them again.  Jake Hummelof St. Louis takes over next year as the top Democrat in the Missouri House.  He says they’ll push for an ethics bill similar to one in 2010 that had support in both parties.

“It unfortunately was derailed by the majority, and over the last two years we’ve had little to no movement in ethics reform," Hummel said.

The 2010 ethics bill originally contained caps on contributions, but the provision was stripped out and the bill was tacked onto a larger government procurement bill.  Earlier this year the Missouri Supreme Court removed the ethics language from the procurement law, saying it violated the single subject clause.  State Representative Kevin McManus (D, Kansas City) has been tapped to sponsor the proposed ethics bill.

“We believe that this is not only a priority of our caucus, but a priority of Missourians throughout the state who want transparency and accountability in their government," McManus said.

(Marshall Griffin/St. Louis Public Radio) /

The proposed bill would limit contributions to $5,000 per donor for candidates seeking statewide and legislative offices, restrict committee-to-committee money transfers and give theMissouri Ethics Commissionthe authority to launch its own investigations.  It would also force not-for-profit groups that donate to campaigns to disclose donors’ identities, and restrict contributions from being invested in anything other than interest-bearing bank accounts.

The Missouri General Assembly's2013 session begins Jan. 9.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter: @MarshallGReport

Copyright 2021 St. Louis Public Radio. To see more, visit St. Louis Public Radio.

Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.
Marshall Griffin
St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.