Missouri Donors Say Effort to Limit Money in Politics Failed

Missouri mega-donors say a newly approved constitutional amendment to cap campaign contributions won't keep money out of politics.

Almost 70 percent of voters on Tuesday approved capping donations to candidates at $2,600 per election. Checks to political parties can't exceed $25,000.

A spokesman for wealthy donor Rex Sinquefield says that actually will empower big donors.

Spokesman Travis H. Brown says it will be more difficult to track the source of donations. He says contributors can anonymously give unlimited amounts to certain nonprofit committees. Those committees then can pass the money on to others, which can spend it on ads.

He says donors also can create an unlimited number of political action committees, which each can give the maximum amount to candidates and essentially avoid contribution limits.