The Missouri Ethics Commission is going to step back and take some extra time before deciding how to implement a State Supreme Court ruling regarding excess campaign contributions.
For Matt Blunt and Jay Nixon's race for governor the sum is in the millions.
The Commission's staff will put together data from fundraising figures for the most recent quarter - filings which are due October 15th - and the Commission will discuss the findings, then likely take action at its meeting next month. Commission Chairman Warren Nieburg says the Supreme Court ruling allows the Commission to put a good deal of thought into its decision regarding what should be done with excess funds.
Thursday's meeting of the Ethics Commission was seen by some as a "do-over" for a hearing, last month, during which the Commission members emerged from behind closed doors to approve informing campaigns that had received excess contributions they might be in violation of state law. This latest meeting was held in response to numerous complaints that the Commission had violated Missouri's Sunshine Law by holding part of its meeting, last month, in secret. The Commission maintains it did nothing wrong at that time.
Source: Missourinet
