Resistance on finance reform bill

The plan would increase individual donations but offers more disclosure.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- A Republican-driven bill that would require more disclosure of campaign contributions is meeting resistance from Democrats and their union allies because of new limits on how much money can be given.
The bill, to be considered next week during a rare special session of the Legislature called by Gov. Bob Taft, would close loopholes in the disclosure of contributors to certain campaign funds, and would limit the activity of "issue advocacy" groups.
Secret party operating accounts would have their contributions and expenditures disclosed. The bill also would require disclosure by the advocacy groups, which cannot directly urge the election or defeat of a candidate but have been allowed leeway in the messages they send.
Notorious
One notorious issue advocacy campaign, against Ohio Supreme Court Justice Alice Robie Resnick in 2000, is currently being challenged in court by groups that want its contributors disclosed.
However, the changes also would quadruple the amount allowed by individual contributors to state campaigns from $2,500 to $10,000 per candidate.
That outraged Democratic leaders in the House and Senate who for years have badly lagged their GOP counterparts in raising money. In this year's campaigns, the House Republican caucus outspent the Democrats $10.1 million to $1.4 million. In the Senate, the GOP caucus outpaced the Democrats $7.7 million to $641,000.
"This is a power-grab reform. This is about maintaining their majority forever," said Senate Democratic leader Greg DiDonato of Dennison.
State Sen. Randy Gardner, a Bowling Green Republican and the bill's sponsor, said he originally opposed raising the $2,500 limit but agreed to the 400 percent increase as a way to close the loopholes in the secret accounts.
Ad limits
The bill also would bar advocacy groups from airing advertising 30 days before a primary or general election unless they followed the guidelines of political action committees, which cannot accept direct contributions from corporations or unions.
The ban would harm the free-speech rights of advocacy groups representing everyone from the Sierra Club to the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, said Bill Todd, a lawyer who represents the chamber.
"I understand the need for campaign finance reform, but it's always got to be balanced against the right of political speech," Todd said.
Another provision would treat political contributions from unions the same as those by corporations by prohibiting the transfer of general treasury funds and dues to their PACs.
Tim Burga, a lobbyist for the Ohio AFL-CIO, said that would unduly harm labor.
"Campaign contributions from labor groups represent only a small part of the overall picture, yet it's the only real avenue for working people to let their voice count," Burga said. "There's not a working person out there who can afford a $10,000 contribution."
Taft last week called the first special session since then-Gov. James A. Rhodes, a Republican, called in the Democratic-controlled Legislature on July 27, 1976, to address a shortfall in the Medicaid program.
"Governor Taft wants a bill that exposes every dollar used to affect the political process," spokesman Orest Holubec said.