ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS
Associated Press Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A Republican proposal to close two campaign finance loopholes will struggle to be heard this fall, even though the GOP controls both the Ohio House and Senate.

The November 7 election is one obstacle; the widespread reluctance of politicians to address campaign finance reform is another.

"These people who are running for office need to raise a certain amount of money to be effective,'' said Sidney Kraus, a political analyst and professor at Cleveland State University. "If they have to spend their money, to argue against or limiting the financing, it's contrary to what they're about now.''

Kraus also considers campaign finance reform a lost cause beyond the election year roadblocks.

"I just don't see the very people who need the money voting on a process that will limit the money they can get,'' he said. Representative David Robinson, a Columbus Republican, has proposed requiring both political parties and legislative fund-raising committees to disclose all the money they raise and spend.

Recent reports involving two quirks in campaign finance law inspired his legislation. Senate Democrats skipped their last two filing deadlines, saying they didn't spend $1,000 during those periods, the minimum requirement for campaigns to file.

In April, the Ohio Republican Party was criticized for promising access to Governor Bob Taft in exchange for $25,000 donations. The GOP doesn't have to disclose the contributors' names because their donations didn't go directly to candidate campaigns.

Robinson was defeated in the March primary by Franklin County Assistant Prosecutor Jim Hughes and must leave office in January.

Nevertheless, Robinson believes his proposal should be heard. "In a democratic society, people have the right to know how political parties and campaign committees spend money and where the money is coming from,'' said Jim Riesbeck, a Robinson spokesman.

"He feels these parties and campaign committees have the same obligations as regular candidates.'' Robinson's limited time won't stop him from pushing the bill, Riesbeck said.

House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson, who supported Robinson in his campaign against Hughes, doesn't expect Robinson's bill to reach the floor.

"It's a significant concern that when you put a bill like that out on the floor while campaigns are going on, it becomes sort of a free-for-all for everybody thinking of all of these good things they can get publicity on in modifying campaign finance,'' Davidson said.

"My guess is it's much more of a priority after the election than before,'' she said. That doesn't sit well with Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, who wants lawmakers to deal with campaign finance reform sooner rather than later.

Blackwell has a "handshake agreement'' with Davidson and Senate President Richard Finan that his own campaign finance proposals will be reviewed this fall and acted on next year, spokesman Carlo LoParo said.

Blackwell wants lawmakers to act on Robinson's bill before the end of this year.

"It's his belief that while the General Assembly may temporarily delay action on these reforms, these are not issues that will go away,'' LoParo said.