A push to toughen rules for reporting political contributions met with resistance Wednesday from some of Cincinnati's lawmakers.

        Councilman Pat DeWine proposed restoring finance disclosure requirements that were tossed out in 1998 at the same time contribution limits were scrapped.

        His plan would require candidates to, among other things, report within 48 hours any donations that come in during the last 19 days of an election. Now those donations are not reported until months after the election.

        “Right now we can take unlimited funds and not have to report until (eight months) after Election Day,” he told City Council. “There ought to be some things we can agree on.”

        But several council members quickly responded that they were opposed to the plan, especially to rules requiring contributors to name their employers.

        “I like big money,” Councilman Charlie Winburn said. “This is not filthy money. It's good money. The next thing, we'll be asking for fingerprints and Social Security numbers.”

        Council members said asking contributors to name their employers would be intimidating and threatening, and could scare people from making donations.

        “Maybe they want to give Alicia Reece money and their corporate head does not want Alicia Reece,” said Councilwoman Reece, who questioned whether the city should tell people what to do with their money.

        Fellow Democratic council members Paul Booth and Minette Cooper also said contribution disclosure is not a problem, but the proposal could cause problems for candidates who depend on small donations.

        Democratic Councilman John Cranley sharply disagreed, saying it is ironic that Republican council members are supporting new reporting procedures traditionally championed by Democrats.

        “It's a sign of integrity,” he said.

        Mayor Charlie Luken said he supports the proposal but there are several other ways to get around finance reporting laws. He said Mr. DeWine should also focus on organizations and political action committees, which essentially make donations for anonymous donors.

        The motion has been referred to a council committee for further discussion.

        Mr. DeWine said the reporting requirements were inadvertently thrown out when council scrapped contribution laws in 1998.

        He also proposed that contributions be reported 120 days and 60 days before an election and, if possible, that reports be on the Internet within 72 hours of being filed.

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