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Essay: A Century of Government Reform in Missouri
It All Adds Up: Reform and the Erosion of Representative Government in Missouri,
1900 - 2000
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February 2012: Missouri Supreme Court confirms the unconstitutionality of SB 844.
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March 2011: SB 844 is ruled unconstitutional on the technicality that it, SB 844, covers multiple subjects and because, due to an oversight, banks were disallowed from making contributions to PACs.
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2010: Legislature amends the regulations regarding money transfers between political party committees and political action committees.
SB 844
Effects: Limited committee-to-committee money transfers;
made it a crime to obstruct a Missouri Ethics Commission investigation;
allowed the Commission to initiate its own investigations;
required donations of $500 or more during legislative session
to be reported in 48 hours;
made it a crime for the governor to offer a lawmaker a job in return for a vote. -
2002: First major purge of legislators due to term limits.
Effects: 73 of 163 members (45%) of the house were term limited.
12 of 34 members (35%) of the senate were term limited. -
1997: Legislature amends lobbyist regulations.
SB 16
Effects: Numerous changes including the mandated availability of lobbyist reports on the internet by Jan. 1 1999. -
December 1994 - July 1998 the various elements of SB 650 and
Proposition A are invalidated by the courts.1994:Two massive campaign finance reform measures passed:
SB 650Effects: Campaign contribution limits: $250-$1000 (depending on the office)
“Voluntary” campaign spending limits: $30,000 to $1.5 mil.
$10,000 limits on contributions from state parties
Limits on “war chests” to 25% of spending limits for that office
Donor disclosure
Bars fundraising during sessionProposition A
(74% yes/26% no)Effects: Campaign contribution limits: $100-$300 depending on office.
No spending limits
No limits on contributions from state parties
Limit on cash contributions: $25
Donor disclosure
Sets up “Commission on Fair Elections
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1992: Voters approve some of the strictest term limits in the country by a margin
of 75% to 25%.
Term Limits - History and Effects
Effects: Legislators can serve only eight years in each of the house and senate.
This is a lifetime limit.
1991: Legislature creates the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Section 105.955, RSMo
Effects: Created the Missouri Ethics Commission, changed the definition of lobbyists,
and required more disclosure of gifts and meals to legislators.
