“In many states, campaign finance reform is pushed only by progressives,” Pudner told me. “The fact that Robert Schaaf, a Republican state senator, and Fred Sauer, who I understand is as conservative as I am on key social issues, were willing to work so hard for these goals helped us realize the potential.”

Last legislative session, Schaaf introduced a wide-ranging “anti-corruption” bill that would have banned lobbyist gifts, instituted campaign finance limits, required a 2-year cooling off period before lawmakers could become lobbyists, and generally strengthened ethics laws.

It went nowhere.

Sauer, on the other hand, has been successful — so far, at least — on getting a constitutional initiative approved for the November ballot that would enact campaign limits for legislative and statewide offices. The conservative Republican activist from St. Louis faces a legal challenge, however, as the Missouri Electrical Cooperative and Legends Bank have filed a lawsuit claiming the initiative is constitutionally flawed.