Parts of Missouri’s new campaign finance law is unconstitutional, but the $2,600 individual donor limit will stick, according to a ruling issued Friday by Senior District Judge Ortrie Smith of the Western District of Missouri. But in striking down a provision in the law that banned certain committee-to-committee transfers, it’s opened up the ability to raise an unlimited amount of money through a local political action committee and transfer that cash to a different PAC. In effect, that will make campaign money harder to track and makes it easier for candidates to get around the individual donor limit. The Missouri Ethics Commission referred calls to Attorney General Josh Hawley, who didn’t immediately return a request for comment on whether he’d appeal the ruling.
Todd Graves, one of the chief lawyers challenging the amendment and chairman of the Missouri Republican Party, predicted Friday that more federal and state lawsuits will soon be filed over Amendment 2.
Amendment 2 has been the target of lawsuits by activists in both parties since it was approved Nov. 8 by almost 70 percent of voters. Donations have been limited to $2,600 per donor per election for all statewide candidates and officeholders, Missouri legislators and elected judges.
Full Article: Federal judge: Parts of Missouri’s campaign finance law unconstitutional; $2,600 donor limit stays | St. Louis Public Radio.