06/20/02

Why now?

Gov. Bob Taft unveiled an election reform plan Tuesday, a plan that would remove much of the soft and untraceable money from the political system. It's a solid plan that ought to become law. But Taft candidly noted that the measure has little chance of going anywhere this year.

He's right. And he's partly to blame.

Taft and legislative leaders appear interested mostly in paying lip service to election reform. Taft once pledged decisive steps to open up Ohio's political process and to remove the veil of anonymity that facilitates the flow of untraceable special-interest money. Then, for two long years, nothing happened.

Now, with his war chest fat and the legislature about to recess, Taft has embraced a reform plan created by Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell. This plan gives Taft an issue to trumpet during his re-election campaign, but its timing denies the public the benefit of a law that would require full disclosure of political contributions during the course of the campaign.

Taft could dispel our cynicism by demanding that the legislature enact the reforms prior to the November election. If the legislature does not comply before it adjourns this week or next, he could call the legislature into special session. That's what he should do, but probably won't.

Much has been made of the heavily exploited loopholes in Ohio's campaign finance laws. Those seeking to donate anonymously to candidates or advocacy groups can legally launder their donations through local or state party organizations, which simply redirect the money.

The Taft-Blackwell proposal would, among other things, require the disclosure of every dollar entering the political arena. Money given to parties to pay for salaries and other operating expenses would have to be reported, as would money donated by advocacy groups.

Such a measure would represent remarkable progress toward open government. Taft himself has rightly said that "full disclosure is needed to allow voters to scrutinize the funding sources of candidates and issue advocacy campaigns."

So do something about it, governor. Demand that the legislature act now - not after Nov. 5.