CAMPAIGN REFORM Ohio Democrats counter with cap on donations

A Republican plan would allow increased contributions, the senators said.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Democratic state Sens. Marc Dann of Liberty and Eric Fingerhut of Cleveland say they will introduce a campaign finance reform bill this week to counter a Republican plan.
In calling for a special session, Gov. Bob Taft has directed the Ohio General Assembly to enact comprehensive campaign reform.
The two senators said their proposal for lowering campaign contribution limits to $2,000 is "a real solution to the campaign finance problem."
$2,000 cap
The main provision of their bill would lower all contributions to statewide and General Assembly candidates, county parties and state parties to $2,000 across-the-board.
A competing Senate and House Republican plan, meanwhile, would raise contribution limits and allow candidates to accept up to $10,000 from individuals and political action committees, the senators said. That, Dann and Fingerhut noted, is 400 percent more than the current limit of $2,500.
Dann and Fingerhut also said their bill would stop money laundering.
"Currently there are too many accounts to and from which to contribute," they said in a statement. "By limiting the number of accounts to one each for state and county parties, Ohioans can be sure that the contribution limits are not being evaded by a series of legal, but clearly unethical, money laundering transactions."
Track donations
They also said their plan would allow Ohioans to track donations to candidates by requiring contributions to be reported within 72 hours of receipt -- and within 24 hours of receipt in the 30 days leading up to the election.
This information would be reported on a Web site maintained by the Ohio Secretary of State.
"Enabling citizens to see political donations in 'real time' will make our elected officials more accountable to Ohioans," the senators said.