The Associated Press
1/25/02 7:11 PM

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio Senate President Richard Finan said campaign contributions that he and his Republican caucus received from Enron Corp. will not be returned because the money would not go to the workers who lost their jobs and retirement funds.

The Houston-based energy trader filed for bankruptcy late last year after investors and workers lost fortunes in company stocks. President Bush has approved a Justice Department criminal investigation into the company's actions.

Campaign finance reports filed with Ohio's secretary of state, Kenneth Blackwell, showed that Enron's political action committee contributed at least $13,500 to Finan and other GOP Senate candidates from 1997 through 2000. The committee also gave at least $3,450 to Democratic Senate candidates.

The contributions came as the Legislature was writing the electric restructuring bill. Enron was one of the electric power suppliers that stood to benefit from the competitive market the bill was intended to create. It took effect in January 2000.

Direct campaign contributions, if they are not spent, can only be given to a nonprofit charity and currently, none is set up to Enron workers, Finan said in a news release.

Candidates also have no obligation to return the money, he said.

"Contributions from the Enron PAC to Ohio candidates were made legally," Finan said. "However, we will continue to monitor the company's bankruptcy proceedings and determine whether any return of funds could benefit those who lost their jobs and retirement funds and be made in a manner that complies with Ohio campaign-finance statutes."

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On the Net:

Secretary of State's finance reports: http://www.state.oh.us/sos/contents--campaign--finance.htm