Only two southwest Missouri legislators, both Democrats, Sara Lampe of Springfield and Charles Dake of Miller, pictured, voted against HB 1900, which removes all campaign contribution limits in Missouri as of Jan. 1, 2007. The bill was signed into law Wednesday by Governor Matt Blunt.
Two other representatives, both Republicans, Jay Wasson of Nixa and B. J. Marsh of Springfield, were absent.
Southwest Missouri legislators voting for the bill, all Republicans, were: Ron Richard, Joplin; Marilyn Ruestman, Joplin; Steve Hunter, Joplin; Bryan Stevenson, Webb City; Kevin Wilson, Neosho: Ed Emery, Lamar; David Sater, Cassville; Mark Wright, Springfield; Mike Parson, Bolivar, Jim Viebrock, Republic; Charles Denison, Springfield; Brad Roark, Springfield; and Bob Dixon, Springfield.
Though much has been made in some of the comments on this blog about the fact that a Democrat proposed the Senate amendment that removed the contribution limits and nearly half of Senate Democrats voted for the bill, it was not that way in the House.
An examination of the roll call vote shows only two Democrats, Theodore Hoskins and Rodney Hubbard, both of St. Louis, voted for the bill in the House. At the same time, four Republicans, Tom Loehner, Koellwtown; Michael McGhee, Odessa; Therese Sander, Moberly; and Maynard Wallace, Thornfield, voted against the bill.
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On the Senate side, a vote was taken specifically on the amendment offered by Sen. Tim Green, D-St. Louis to repeal the contribution limits. That vote went 25-8 against. This was the only vote specifically taken on the limits and not the rest of the bill's provisions.
Four Democrats, Green, another St. Louis County senator, Harry Kennedy, Frank Barnitz, Lake Spring, and Victor Callahan, Jackson County, voted to remove limits. The 25 who voted for removing the limits included southwest Missouri senators Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, Jack Goodman, R-Mount Vernon, Norma Champion, R-Springfield; and Delbert Scott, R-Lowry City. The only Republican to vote to retain campaign limits was Kevin Engler of Farmington.
On the final vote, Engler, and Rita Days, D-St. Louis, changed their votes while Charles Wheeler, D-Kansas City, was absent.
This gives us the vote rundown but doesn't really explain much about what the ramifications of having "no limits."
ReplyDeleteHas any state senator or representative voiced his/her opinion on this issue and, if so, what has the other side said?
In most areas of life having "no limits" can pose some problems.
Does this mean that it will be harder for small independent candidates to be elected and easier getting contributions from special interests to prevail?
Too much influence is being peddled in Washington by Big Oil, the armaments makers and dozens of special interests.