Missouri lawmakers recently provided more reason for public cynicism about politicians.

Shortly before the legislative session ended, last Friday, the Republican leadership whipped out a bill that entirely removes limits on individual donations to campaigns.

It passed. And it would go into effect before this year’s general election.

Candidates for governor and other statewide offices, as well as legislators and elected judges, could legally accept sky-high gifts from individual donors.

With just an hour remaining until their mandatory adjournment, lawmakers had little time for debate on legislation that could have far-reaching consequences.

Gov. Matt Blunt should veto the bill. Someone should be looking out for the public’s best interests.

In 2006 Missouri lawmakers tried this trick, but the Supreme Court restored donor limits on a technicality. Lawmakers hope this plan to pad their campaign coffers will withstand court review.

In elections, money speaks. Candidates with the most often have an advantage over competitors.

Money also speaks after elections, when lawmakers feel beholden to special interests and wealthy contributors. The rationale for limits is to help restrain the influence a single donor may hold over an elected official.

It makes sense, as has been the law, to keep a reasonable lid on the influence of a few wealthy individuals.

It’s a miserable business that Missouri legislators have embraced with this hurried decision.

Even though the bill at least calls for increased disclosure of big donations, contributors who want to avoid easy identification still would be able to funnel money through political committees for distribution to candidates they favor.

The use of political committees, which take money from a number of donors, makes it more difficult to find out who is contributing.
Rex Sinquefield, a retired St. Louis businessman, has created 100 political action committees and has asked others to join him in making contributions to them.

If lawmakers were interested in true reform, they would put restraints on donations to and from political committees, and require more disclosure of contributions.

Missourians in 1994 voted to limit campaign contributions. It is unlikely that the public’s thinking has changed much.

The governor took himself out of this year’s campaigns by not seeking re-election. That decision puts him in the perfect position to rise above personal interests and do the right thing to stop this grab for campaign dollars.