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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Gov. Jay Nixon has signed ethics legislation designed to help clean up Missouri's political culture.

The ethics overhaul was a top priority for Nixon and legislative leaders this year.

Nixon signed the bill without ceremony Wednesday.

The new law requires elected officials and candidates to report larger campaign donations within 48 hours. It also gives the bipartisan Missouri Ethics Commission the power to begin investigations on its own, without waiting for a complaint.

Nixon and many legislative Democrats have complained the legislation wasn't tough enough because it doesn't cap campaign donations. Republicans contend that limiting campaign contributions inhibits transparency.