Lawsuit filed to fight campaign contribution amendment

The effort by Missouri voters to limit campaign contributions is being met with a federal lawsuit.

Legends Bank and Missouri Electric Cooperatives filed the suit Wednesday in St. Louis. The suit is an attempt to stop the new constitutional amendment to limit political giving. That amendment took effect Thursday.

In November, 70 percent of Missouri voters approved the amendment to cap direct contributions to candidates at $2,600 per election, and $25,000 per election for political parties.

Voters say mega-donors like Rex Sinquefield have too much influence in deciding elections. Few would doubt the strength of Sinquefield’s financial war chest, but despite more than $10 million in 2016 campaign contributions for candidates Catherine Hanaway, Will Kraus, Kurt Schaefer, Eric Schmitt and Bev Randles, all but Schmitt lost their primary or general election races.

The attorney in the case, Chuck Hatfield, said he plans to ask the court to temporarily block the amendment.

On the same day the lawsuit was filed, more than $2.6 million in campaign contributions was contributed in amounts greater than the new limits now in effect ($2,600 direct, $25,000 political party), according to the Missouri Ethics Commission.