Can Ohio Get Campaign Reform Right?

National Group Asks: Can Ohio Get Campaign Reform Right?

12/13/2004 11:30:00 AM

To: State Desk

Contact: Jesse Rutledge of Justice at Stake, 202-588-9454

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Legislation being considered by the Ohio legislature to clean up that state's campaign finance system is well-intentioned but seriously flawed, and could result in elections, including those for the state Supreme Court, that are further dominated by money and special interest groups, according to Justice at Stake, a watchdog that has monitored judicial elections nationwide since 2000. In its report on the 2002 state Supreme Court elections, Justice at Stake labeled Ohio the nation's "poster child" of nasty and expensive judicial elections.

"Ohio's leaders are worthy of praise for understanding that their Supreme Court elections are an open wound that needs immediate attention," said Bert Brandenburg, executive director of Justice at Stake. "Chief Justice Moyer's "Next Steps" reform summit helped create a real opportunity for reforms that could secure public trust in the courts."

Brandenburg praised attempts to improve disclosure of interest group spending on elections. "Ohio has become a playground for special interest groups that run expensive and explosive attack ads, funded straight out of the treasuries of corporations, unions and other entities that are shielded from proper campaign finance regulation and disclosure," Brandenburg observed.

But Brandenburg flagged two possibilities that would poison any reforms. Raising contribution limits for candidate committees and political parties should be avoided, because it would be an invitation for special interests to pour more money into judicial races. And according to testimony prepared by the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, a Justice at Stake partner, the language proposed in the "electioneering communications" section of the bill-which should be designed to impose a uniform campaign finance regime for those engaged in electioneering-is likely be invalidated by the courts. This should be rectified.

Justice at Stake commended work being done by reform groups to improve judicial elections across the state, including Ohio Citizen Action and the League of Women Voters of Ohio (both Justice at Stake partners). Justice at Stake is a partnership of over 40 state and national groups working to keep our courts fair, impartial and independent. The positions, policies and statements of Justice at Stake campaign partners are their own, and do not necessarily reflect those of other campaign partners.

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