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By Mike Wagner
Dayton Daily News
Tuesday, May 15, 2001

COLUMBUS--By law, they don't have to do it, but the Ohio Republican and Democratic parties voluntarily disclosed some employers of their campaign contributors and earned a "C'' for their effort.

A report released by Ohio Citizen Action shows that both parties disclosed 75 percent of the employers for major individual contributors in 1999-2000, just average in the advocacy group's opinion.

"We believe the voters have the right to know how about the money flowing into political parties and who is trying to influence elections," said Laura Yeomans, research director for the citizens group. "There should be no campaign finance secrets from the people."

Ohio law exempts political party committees from having to list the contributor's employer or address, even though statewide and legislative candidates are required to provide the information.

But Ohio Citizens Action and other advocacy groups are pushing lawmakers to require full disclosure of all funds for political parties.

In the report the Republican Party received an "F" grade for not providing any information from its operating funds account. The Democratic Party got an "A" for disclosing information for its special operating account.

That prompted a war of words between party officials.

"I think it's good; it proves what we have been saying all along: The Ohio GOP raises more secret money than any political organization in the U.S.," said Kena Hudson of the Democratic Party. "We are strong advocates for full disclosure."

GOP officials shot back at the Democrats, saying that other groups, such as labor unions, help their rivals hide campaign funds.

"The Democrats have no trouble releasing their operating account because they don't use it; the labor unions do all their work for them and that doesn't get disclosed," said Gary Abernathy, Republican Party spokesman. "We have never been required to disclose operating funds in 50 years, and we we will continue to follow the current rules."

Abernathy added that the Republican Party wouldn't actively oppose a law that called for full disclosure from political parties.

Both parties received "A" grades for disclosing the addresses of individual campaign contributors. The disclosed information is available at the Ohio Secretary of State's Office Web site: www.state.oh.us/sos/

Yeomans said the group will release another disclosure report card for legislative and statewide candidates in about four weeks.