Gov. Matt Blunt has signed off on a local senator’s plan to repeal campaign contribution limits in Missouri.

The move sets into motion two sets of rules for candidates in upcoming elections, as the legislation goes into effect after the August primary, but before the November general election.

The Legislature approved the bill from Senate Majority Floor Leader Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, in the final hours of the 2008 session on May 16.

But Mr. Blunt hesitated to offer any verbal support of the repeal shortly afterward during a post-session news conference. Both Republican and Democratic representatives had spoken out against the bill during floor debate that day. Opponents contended that erasing the limits would cause campaign costs to skyrocket, while supporters aimed to increase transparency.

Mr. Blunt’s seal of approval came Thursday, though, when he officially signed SB 1038 into law.

“By signing this legislation, the governor is making Missouri’s campaign finance system more open and transparent,” a spokesman for Mr. Blunt, Rich Chrismer, wrote in a statement released Friday. “This legislation enhances disclosure and will help limit the amount of money funneled to politicians through political committees by making it easier for members of the press and the public to find abuses ...”

Missourians voted in 1994 to impose the limits, which cap individual donations to representatives at $325 and senators at $675. Donors to candidates running for statewide office can give up to $1,350.

Roughly 74 percent of Buchanan County voters supported the ballot measure.

The Legislature previously eliminated the limits in 2006, but the Missouri Supreme Court overturned the decision on a technicality.

Democrats were quick to criticize the change Friday.

“For a handful of legislators and the governor to do away with the will of the people is just wrong,” House Democratic Caucus Chairman Ed Wildberger, of St. Joseph, said.

House Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota, of Independence, said in a statement he believed party leadership pushed the bill late in the session to affect the 2008 election.

Mr. Shields contended, however, that the legislation was the necessary reform to prevent abuse from political party committees, which make campaign contributions hard to track.

“It’s the right thing to do. All you have to do is look at this deal going on with (Sen. Chris) Koster,” the St. Joseph Republican said. “That’s a prime example.”

Mr. Koster, a Harrisonville Democrat running for attorney general, is clouded in controversy over a possible campaign violation involving contribution limits.

The Associated Press recently obtained e-mails that revealed Mr. Koster’s staff “helped direct donors wishing to give more than the state limit to the Economic Growth Council, then coordinated the transfer of that money to local political party committees and onto Koster’s campaign,” according to an AP report.

The new campaign finance law also includes a provision that requires candidates to electronically file contributions of more than $5,000 with the Missouri Ethics Commission within 48 hours of receipt.

It goes into effect Aug. 28.

Alyson E. Raletz can be reached at alysonraletz@npgco.com.