Contribution Limits: Part II

As we've mentioned in this blog before, Missouri has no legal limits on contributions to candidates for state and local offices.  Recently, private donations in the race for Missouri secretary of state have drawn national attention, as the New York Times highlighted the donations of Missouri resident Rex Sinquefield.

Mr. Sinquefield, as noted in the previous post, is the largest political donor in the state, with total donations topping $20 million, according to the New York Times.  Personally, Mr. Sinquefield has supplied 40% of the funds raised by Republican Shane Schoeller.

According to spokesperson Laura Slay, Mr. Sinquefield contributes to "political candidates who share his commitment to education and tax policies that will improve educational and employment opportunities for every Missourian."

In particular, Mr. Sinquefield's central "commitments" are free-market policies, local control, and tax and education reform.


The central question concerning campaign donations, and the reason characters like Mr. Sinquefield are brought to the national spotlight, is a dispute about the fundamental realities of democracy.  Can a democracy serve its citizens properly when one man can donate almost half of the funds gathered by a candidate for state office?  Can that candidate truly serve the interest of the public at large after his campaign has been so selectively funded?

This is the question Missouri voters need to answer themselves.  Should a retired, wealthy investor, with distinct beliefs as to the future of our state, have this level of influence on our political process? Regardless of your perspective on Mr. Sinquefied's ideas, should someone of his stature be able to use his own voice to this extent?