The Associated Press
COLUMBUS -- Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lee Fisher took advantage of a temporary loophole to collect unlimited donations from unions this month.
While Mr. Fisher's campaign staff said Friday that the campaign contributions were legal, his opponent in November, Republican Bob Taft, told Mr. Fisher to "do the right thing" and return contributions above the $2,500 limit.
The dispute started after an appeals court ruling in March threw out the portion of a Republican-drafted campaign finance reform law that capped union contributions to political candidates at $2,500.
Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery appealed and got a stay of the 1995 law, but the Ohio Supreme Court refused to hear the case July 1, allowing the lower court ruling to stand.
The GOP-controlled legislature later reimposed the $2,500 limit on labor union contributions in a new law that takes effect Monday.
Mr. Fisher and other Democrats have argued that the Supreme Court's refusal to hear the case lifted the stay, allowing unions to give unlimited money until the new limits take effect.
But Mr. Taft and Ms. Montgomery, a Republican, have said the stay remains in effect because the court is being asked to reconsider its refusal to hear the appeal.
Mr. Taft, a two-term secretary of state, had nearly $6.1 million in his campaign fund in mid-June compared with $3.5 million for Mr. Fisher.
Mr. Taft sent a letter to Mr. Fisher on Friday, asking that he disclose any contributions in excess of $2,500 received from labor groups since July 1 and that he return any money over that amount to comply with the new limits.
"Your campaign's decision to disregard the intent of the law signifies a "what-can-I-get-away-with-today?' attitude . . .," Mr. Taft wrote.
But Mr. Fisher's campaign manager said the former state attorney general has no plans to return any money and is not breaking any campaign laws. Alan Melamed said the contributions will be reported in early August with other contributions received in July.
"We have never apologized, and never will apologize for the support -- legal support -- we've received from the working men and women of Ohio," he said.
Mr. Melamed also said Mr. Taft solicited $5,000 contributions just before the $2,500 limit went into effect in 1995.
"That was legal. . . . We're not going to complain about it," he said.
