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Missouri Senate passes ethics bill

March 16, 2006
By: Hillari Duthoo
State Capital Bureau

ANCHOR INTRO:

The Missouri Senate voted Thursday to remove campaign contribution limits for state legislators.

Hillari Duthoo (Doo-thoh) has that story from Jefferson City.

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OutCue: SOC

Senate majority leader Charlie Shields says he wants to see cleaner legislative campaigns.

The way to do this, he says, is through the passage of a bill he's sponsored, which would remove contribution limits and the reduce the number of third parties used in fund raising as a result.

Shields says that most of the more negative campaign ads come from third party groups and that eliminating contribution limits and those parties will make for friendlier races.

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"I think that by putting everything back into the committee without limits and then at the same time making it so transparent that people know exactly where the money is coming from, I think you'll see cleaner campaigns."

The House will debate the bill after next week's spring break.

From the state capitol, I'm Hillari Duthoo.

******

ANCHOR INTRO:

Missouri Senators voted Thursday to lift limits on contributions to individual campaigns.

Hillari Duthoo (DOO-thoh) has that story out of the state capitol.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

In a 29 to 3 vote the the Missouri Senate passed a bill to remove contribution limits on legislative campaigns.

One of those who voted the bill down was St. Louis area Senator Pat Dougherty, who says there are a number of good points to the bill but can be unfair for those challenging an incumbent in an election.

Actuality:
RunTime: 12 sec.
OutCue: "I think it's wrong."
Contents:

"There'll never be a level playing field but we really shouldn't put boulders in the way of an incumbent who wants to come up here and try to do good public policy and have their say at making laws and representing people. I think it's wrong."

Senate majority leader Charlie Shields, who sponsored the bill, says he thinks the passage of this bill will lead to cleaner, less negative campaigns.

From Jefferson City, I'm Hillari Duthoo.

*******

ANCHOR INTRO:

The Missouri Senate voted 29-3 to pass a bill ending campaign fund raising limits for legislators.

Hillari Duthoo (DOO-thoh) has more from the state capitol.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

St. Louis Senator Joan Bray was one of only three who voted down a bill to limit legislative campaign contributions.

Bray says she is opposed to lifting those limits because it gives the individual candidate the chance to be "bought".

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"Without limits, it is possible and it will be highyl likely that certain monied interests will heavily support one candidate and will get their candidate elected and I don't think we necessarily want a legislature of candidates who are owned by special monied interests."

The House will debate the bill after they return from legislative spring break.

From Jefferson City, I'm Hillari Duthoo.