Wednesday, October 06, 1999
Taft says cash from kids just fine
Governor rakes in money from 'students'
BY MICHAEL HAWTHORNE
Enquirer Columbus Bureau
COLUMBUS — Republican Bob Taft's campaign for governor reaped more than 40 percent of the money contributed by students to state candidates since 1995, according to state records.
Some of the donors weren't old enough to vote or drive a car, but Mr. Taft said Tuesday he doesn't support federal legis lation that would bar contributions from children younger than 18. Nor would he back a similar effort at the state level.
“I think children under the age of 18, at least from my own experience, often are interested in politics, even though they may not have a lot of income,” Mr. Taft said. “They are interested in campaigning and interested in making contributions.”
The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Sunday that donors who listed their occupation as “stu dent” have given $7.4 million to federal candidates since 1991, and nearly $48,000 to state candidates since 1995.
Some of the contributors started giving while still in diapers. Others chipped in as they entered kindergarten, including Lauren Curtin, a 5-year-old from suburban Akron who gave Mr. Taft's political fund $1,000 one week before the November election.
Critics say the practice is a legal loophole parents exploit to circumvent contribution limits. Kiddie giving is so widespread that federal election officials have urged Congress to bar donations from minors, based on the presumption youngsters are not making contributions on their own behalf.
“Whenever there are limits, there always will be people who find ways around them,” said Larry Makinson, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics in Washington, a nonpartisan group that tracks political cash.
Individuals can give $2,500 to a state candidate and $1,000 to a federal candidate in each election. Donors whose occupation was listed as “student” started appearing on state campaign finance reports after the General Assembly approved contribution limits in 1995.
Federal and state laws place no minimum age on donors, but federal law requires political cash to come from funds “owned or controlled exclusive ly” by contributors who give “knowingly and voluntarily.”
State law prohibits donors from giving money to political causes in the name of another person.
The Federal Election Commission (FEC), which enforces federal campaign finance laws, has investigated and closed four cases since 1975 involving allegations of donations by minors. The only time the FEC sanctioned a donor was 1997, when the commission fined a Maryland man $4,000 for making four contributions through his child by the time the boy was 2.
“We have no idea whether John Doe is 6 or 66,” said Ian Stirton, a commission spokesman. “Somebody has to file a complaint.”
While campaign committees aren't required to ask for or provide the ages of donors, the Enquirer identified children through public records and interviews.
Mr. Taft collected $20,206 for his gubernatorial campaign from student donors, including a $2,500 contribution from his daughter, Anna, then 19.
Many of the student contributions came about the same time their parents gave the maximum amount allowed under federal and state laws. In each case, the family's money went to candidates favored by the parents.
Mr. Taft, who oversaw Ohio's election laws as secretary of state from 1991 until early this year, was a strong supporter of contribution limits enacted during his tenure.
“Another thing I worked hard at as secretary of state was getting kids interested in politics at an early age,” he said Tuesday.
Lauren Curtin was 5 when she gave $1,000 to Mr. Taft last year. Her father, G. Michael Curtin, a Cleveland lawyer, gave the $2,500 maximum state contribution. So did her mom, Cynthia, a lawyer who works out of the family's home in Hudson, Ohio.
Their son, Michael, also started supporting politicians last year, when he was 2. Michael, his sister and parents each gave the maximum $1,000 federal contribution to the campaign of U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio.
Asked about her children's contributions, Mrs. Curtin said, “All I can tell you is we haven't violated any of the rules and regulations.”
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