Richard may abstain from vote on repealing campaign contribution limits

Rep. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, who claimed a hardship and was allowed to keep $82,000 in excess campaign contributions, will be able to keep another $60,000 if the House votes to repeal contribution limits, but Richard tells Associated Press he might abstain from the vote:

Then the commission added an escape clause: If the Legislature once again repeals contribution limits during its 2008 session, Richard and Icet won't have to refund anything.

Richard, R-Joplin, said he supports repealing the limits again. But when asked whether he had an extra incentive to back the legislation this year, Richard replied that he might abstain from the vote.

"I don't want to have any innuendo that I'm doing it for monetary reasons," Richard said.

None of us would ever think that.