The briefs have been filed in response to a Missouri State Supreme Court ruling on a campaign finance reform law , and the interested parties can now only sit back and wait for the judges to rule on an issue stemming from that ruling.
On July 19th, the Court struck down 2006’s HB 1900 , the Campaign Finance Reform Bill, which virtually eliminated contribution limits. In striking down the law, the Court reinstated the previous limits, and then solicited suggestions as to what should be done with contributions raised in excess of the limits.
Attorney Joshua Schindler has filed a brief on behalf of Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield, who have made excessive contributions to politicians – both Democrats and Republicans – and who say there is no need to return their money.
A prospective application of the law would reinstate the previous limits as of July 19th – the date of the ruling. A retrospective application would say, in effect, that the new campaign finance law never existed, and would require the return of all excess contributions.
Schindler argues contributions lawfully made when there were no limits should be treated differently than contributions made after the ruling, because his clients observed the law in effect at the time they contributed their money.
Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)
