Taft faces questions on gifts to GOP April 19, 2000 BY JIM PROVANCE BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU COLUMBUS - Governor Taft, facing the first ethical controversy of his administration, said yesterday he would support legislation requiring full disclosure of all contributions to political parties. His announcement follows questions raised about his use of the Governor's Residence and his seats at Ohio State University football games to raise operating funds for the Republican Party. Unlike contributions made for campaign purposes, current law does not require public disclosure of contributions made to the operating funds of political parties. The party had offered donors contributing $25,000 or more a year to the GOP operating fund the chance to join its "Team Ohio" and enjoy unusual access to the governor. Although not illegal, the practice was immediately compared to President Clinton's Lincoln Bedroom public-relations nightmare. "When he was Secretary of State, Governor Taft was one of the architects of the law on the books now," said spokesman Scott Milburn. "He encourages everyone, including both political parties, to fully disclose everything they are required by state law to disclose. If the law is inadequate, then let's not shy away from making improvements to have full disclosure." The governor, however, is not calling for public disclosure of funds already raised through the party's Team Ohio program, nor does he vow not to participate in the future under the current law. "He will continue to make sure we have a strong Republican Party in this state," said Mr. Milburn. "That benefits Republican leaders all across the ballot, and any governor should play a role. He would be remiss if he did not support the party effectively. Democratic governors have been very effective using their position to support the party." Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell's office is seeking a sponsor for a bill to require full disclosure of all contributions to political parties. It will be part of a larger campaign-finance reform measure. "Secretary Blackwell finds it troublesome that contributions can come into the political process without disclosure," said spokesman Carlo Loparo. "He finds it doubly troublesome that wages can be taken in the form of union dues and used without the consent of the employee and deposited into the Democratic Party." House Minority Leader Jack Ford (D., Toledo) said he will introduce a bill minus the union-dues language. "This clearly was a violation of the spirit of the law of disclosure, an end-run around the disclosure requirements," he said. "The contriteness I don't buy. They are contrite because they got caught. The bottom line is millions of dollars have been given to the parties in exchange for access to decision-makers. The people have no idea what deals were on the tab." He said the same is true for the Democratic Party even through it raised a fraction of what was raised by Republicans. Speaker of the House Jo Ann Davidson (R., Reynoldsburg) said she has never known contributions for party operating funds to be an issue before. She said she's willing to consider a change in the law but noted that it might be difficult to avoid a myriad of other campaign finance-related amendments during an election year. © 1999, 2000 The Blade, All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use and Privacy Statement