From the Wednesday Sun:

With the Missouri legislative session ending May 16, Rep. Jason Holsman, D-Kansas City, is having trouble accepting one piece of legislation.

The assembly passed a bill that takes off limits for campaign finances in Missouri. Holsman, who has called for publicly financed campaigns in the state, is not pleased with the outcome.

“I can’t help but be astonished that 79 Republicans said it was OK to take money on the side of the galleries,” Holsman said. “They said it’s OK to take a check in their office. They said it’s OK to take a walk on a bill after they receive $1,000 in the parking garage. I’m outraged that they put government up for sale.”

In 2006, legislators passed a similar law, which the Missouri Supreme Court struck down after only a few months.

Holsman said campaign finance will become a statewide issue in the November elections.

“I believe it should be the No. 1 issue,” Holsman said. “All issues are subjugated when bad government prevails.”

Holsman said he does not want to paint every issue as Republican versus Democrat, but in this case there are clear dividing lines.

“This is a good government, bad government issue,” Holsman said. “On Friday, Democrats stood for good government; Republicans did not. Some did and I applaud them. Someone like Brian Yates, who stood up for good government, I have a new respect for him that I didn’t have going in.”

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