Nixon backs stricter limits on political party money

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon is calling for stricter campaign contribution limits on political parties.

Political party committees currently can give candidates up to 20 times the amount of contributions as individual donors, business or special interest groups.

Nixon is proposing to cap party contributions at the same amount as everyone else. That currently stands at $1,275 per election for candidates in statewide races.

Nixon is challenging Republican Governor Matt Blunt in this year's gubernatorial elections.

In 2006, Blunt signed a law repealing Missouri's individual contribution limits and allowing party committees to provide only in-kind contributions. That law took effect in January 2007.

But the Supreme Court struck it down last July because of the way lawmakers passed it.