Mo. measure proposed to limit campaign donations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - An effort to cap campaign contributions to candidates in Missouri has moved one step forward.

The secretary of state's office on Friday approved a summary for a proposed ballot measure. That clears the way for supporters to begin collecting the more than 91,000 signatures needed to put the question to voters in 2012.

The proposal would bar candidates from accepting more than $5,000 per donor for each election.

Missouri's campaign finance laws have undergone numerous makeovers in recent years.

Legislators passed a law in 2006 repealing campaign contribution limits, but the Missouri Supreme Court struck it down. The Legislature responded in 2008 by again repealing the limits, leading to this year's effort to put proposed caps on a future statewide ballot.