HB 1265 -- Public Funding of Campaigns

Sponsor:  Oxford

This bill establishes public funding for state elections.  In its
main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Establishes the qualifying and reporting requirements for
public funding of state elections;

(2)  Specifies the amount of public funding available for various
state elections;

(3)  Limits the use of money from private sources and personal
funds by participating candidates;

(4)  Offers additional public moneys to match the spending of
candidates who reject public funding;

(5)  Requires independent expenditures over specified amounts to
be reported and possibly matched by public moneys;

(6)  Limits contributions to political parties and the amount of
money participating candidates may accept from political parties;

(7)  Pays for public funding with annual appropriations from the
General Assembly and allows a portion of the remaining funds to
be returned to the General Revenue Fund beginning in 2010;

(8)  Requires the Missouri Ethics Commission to administer and
enforce the provisions of the bill; and

(9)  Funds the Fair Elections Trust Fund administered by the
commission by a 1/100 of 1% corporate franchise tax that will be
imposed in addition to the current franchise tax of 1/30 of 1% on
certain outstanding shares specified in Section 147.010, RSMo.

The bill applies to state elections after November 2, 2010.

The bill contains a referendum clause requiring voter approval.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:21 am