Attorney General Chris Koster

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Attorney General Chris Koster shrugged off questions on Monday about whether he supports efforts by U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill and others to reinstate campaign contributions in Missouri.

Following a committee hearing in which Koster called on lawmakers to enact legislation to limit gifts and campaign support from lobbyists during the legislature’s session in Jefferson City, Koster made a long loop though the Capitol basement as he tried to avoid reporter questions. After being asked multiple questions while walking through the Capitol garage, Koster would not say whether he would support the plan pushed by McCaskill.

“I have said before that if a contribution limit policy that can be effective can be drafted, I would be in favor of that, but Citizens United makes it difficult to draft such a policy,” the likely Democratic gubernatorial candidate finally said.

Koster reluctance to weigh in on the issue comes as McCaskill, also considering a run for governor, herself, has taken on the issue as a way to target the influence carried by St. Louis billionaire Rex Sinquefield, the state’s largest political donor last cycle.

Facing allegations that his office may have given undue treatment to companies with political relationships with Koster, the attorney general has implemented a policy where he would no longer accept lobbyist gifts or campaign contributions from entities with pending litigation. Koster said on Monday he wants the legislature to do the same.

Koster also asked the legislature to support a measure that would ban political non-profit advocacy organizations from airing advertisements in Missouri without first signing up with the Missouri Ethics Commission and publicly reporting their donors.