Court backs Missouri ban on using public funds for campaigns

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a law that bans the use of public funds for campaigning. Judges unanimously ruled in favor of the law Tuesday. Judges say the law limits use of public funding but doesn’t limit free speech. Several cities in 2019 had sued to overturn the law. The cities argued the law unconstitutionally limited public officials’ free speech. A lower court sided with the cities. But the Supreme Court says the law is constitutional.