JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Political campaign donors can dig as deep into their wallets as they want this fall.

The Missouri Legislature repealed campaign contribution limits in a tense final hour of the 2008 session Friday with a slim 83-72 vote in the House of Representatives.

A bill from Sen. Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, lifts the caps on Aug. 28, so the change will come into play during the November general election, but old rules will remain in the August primary.

SB 1038 needs the governor’s signature before it can become law, but Matt Blunt gave no indication Friday whether he would back it.

The repeal received staunch opposition from both parties in the House. Opponents argued that erasing the limits would cause campaign costs to skyrocket, while supporters aimed to increase transparency.

“The people of Missouri don’t want us to put more money into the political system,” argued House Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota, of Independence. “My fear is that this bill was brought up at the last minute of session to affect the 2008 election and how much money goes through.”

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 in 2006 nixed the limits, but the Missouri Supreme Court overturned the decision on a technicality.

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

Mr. Shields has contended that since the limits were put into place, more money is being funneled into campaigns through hard-to-track political committees.

“We know what’s going on and if you have a conscience, you feel like it’s unclean,” Rep. Timothy Flook, R-Liberty, said.

House leaders brought up the repeal less than two hours away from the Legislature’s 6 p.m. constitutional deadline to pass bills.

Any changes to the bill from the House would’ve kicked it back to the Senate for approval, which could’ve jeopardized chances for ultimate passage.

Democrats attempted to amend the bill by banning political candidates from fundraising in the Capitol building, the governor’s mansion or inside any courthouse, but it failed in another close 74-79 vote.

Then Republicans turned on the legislation, too.

“We desperately need to allow for transparency, but this just doesn’t do it,” Rep. Brian Yates, R-Lee’s Summit, said.

Mr. Yates noted that political action committees would continue to receive and donate contributions in the same manner under the legislation — but soon they’ll be able to donate more money. The repeal in 2006 kept the committees from making contributions.

Mr. Shields later told the News-Press that not including the committee component in his repeal may have been an oversight on his part, but that he’d be open to making changes in 2009.

“When the limits are lifted, you will not see political parties continue to be relevant,” he said.

Local representatives who voted in favor of the repeal included: Jim Guest, R-King City; John Quinn, R-Chillicothe; Mike Thomson, R-Maryville, and Dr. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph.

Voting “no” were: Reps. Jason Brown, R-Platte City; Martin Rucker, D-St. Joseph; Ed Wildberger, D-St. Joseph, and Jim Whorton, D-Trenton.

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