Tuesday, May 30, 2000

The chances of reforming Ohio's campaign-finance laws appear dead for the year.

Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell had wanted to roll out a package strengthening the laws, which were revamped in 1995. Among his proposals were banning legislative fund-raisers while the General Assembly is in session and requiring lawmakers from outside central Ohio to hold their money- raising events well away from the capital city.

Ohio Senate President Richard H. Finan, R-Cincinnati, staunchly opposes reforms, saying the topic always turns into a circus as lawmakers try to score political points.

But Blackwell has won a promise from Finan and House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson, R-Reynoldsburg, that a legislative panel will be appointed to study the secretary of state's proposals. However, no move to change the law would come until the next legislative session starts in 2001.

Blackwell still hopes to close one loophole yet this year: requiring all contributions to or expenditures by a political party to be made public. The issue of secret party finances arose earlier this year in connection with the Ohio Republican Party's operating fund.

Gov. Bob Taft solicited $25,000 and $50,000 donations to the secret fund, offering potential contributors the chance to sit in his box at Ohio Stadium or attend a reception in the Governor's Residence.

-- Darrel Rowland