Show-Me the Money!

This week’s edition of the St. Louis Business Journal contained an interesting, “Political Pull,” naming and discussing some of Missouri’s biggest contributors to the Obama and McCain campaigns. Between the two candidates, they amassed a combined $4,075,353. Missouri is not only a bellwether state, but also a crucial tossup state for the 2008 presidential election.

Reading this article, and thinking about the colossal figures being given to both campaigns, I could not help but remember some of the campaign finance reform that had occurred in Missouri. In their final hour of session back in May, Missouri lawmakers passed legislation repealing Missouri’s campaign contribution limits. Just in the governor’s race alone, candidates are expected to raise between $8 and $12 million. This law, which was went into effect on August 28, could leave many state candidates screaming “Show me the money!”

There is much dissonance within political ideologies when it comes to campaign finance. Just last February, two Missouri state senators each wrote completely opposite bills — one throwing out campaign contribution limits, another pushing a plan for public campaign financing. Does this cross the lines of our First Amendment, or do limits really clean up our government? I would love for you to post your ideas.