By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – Political candidates in Missouri may have to return some of their donations, now that the State Supreme Court has reinstated campaign contribution limits.
Democratic House Member Rachel Storch of St. Louis is among those that could be affected. She didn't approve of getting rid of limits on donations, but also says her campaign needed to remain competitive.
Storch also says she agrees with the ruling that restored contribution limits.
"I do think it's important that we have a level playing field. I think we had created a Wild West environment where a single individual or a corporation could put an unlimited amount of money into Missouri politics," Storch said. "I think it creates an atmosphere where special interests have special access in the halls of the Capitol, and it's just not appropriate."
The State Supreme Court is accepting written arguments through August 3rd on whether to force candidates to return any over-the-limit contributions.
If it does, Governor Matt Blunt's reelection campaign would take the biggest hit, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Blunt has received over 3 and a half million dollars in donations that exceed the restored limit.
That's nearly half of all the money his campaign has taken in.