History Of Ethics Legislation

• Essay: A Century of Government Reform in Missouri
  It All Adds Up: Reform and the Erosion of Representative Government in Missouri,
  1900 - 2000

• February 2012: Missouri Supreme Court confirms the unconstitutionality of SB 844.
• 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.
• 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 650
  
  

  Effects: 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 session

  Proposition 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

• 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.

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