COLUMBUS — Support in the Ohio General Assembly appears non-existent for campaign finance reforms endorsed by Gov. Bob Taft and Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell.

        In his first public response Wednesday, House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford, had nothing good to say about the plan, which would require the disclosure of secret donations to political parties and special-interest groups.

        Mr. Householder said Mr. Blackwell and Mr. Taft didn't ask for his or Senate President Richard Finan's, R-Evendale, input before they unveiled it Tuesday. The speaker appeared surprised when told that Mr. Blackwell said he had consulted with legislative leaders.

        “We need to find out who the leader is,” Mr. Householder said.

        The proposal, the first serious attempt to change Ohio's campaign finance laws in seven years, would force state and county political parties to disclose donations to their operating funds. Donations made to special-interest groups that engage in voter education campaigns would also have to be made public.

        Mr. Householder's comments aside, the reforms face more opposition in the senate. “The chances of this happening in my lifetime are probably not that good,” Mr. Finan said Tuesday.

        The governor's spokeswoman, Mary Anne Sharkey, said no one should be surprised by these reforms because Mr. Taft has supported them for two years.

        “There is a reluctance on the part of some people to open up these records,” Ms. Sharkey said. “Those not in favor of full disclosure maybe should explain why.”

        Although unlimited and confidential donations to political parties are legal, Ohio's Republican leadership has been plagued by embarrassing situations involving secret campaign funds in recent years.

        Two years ago, Mr. Taft traded Ohio State University football tickets and personal access for $25,000 donations to the Ohio Republican Party, a practice he has since stopped.

        In 2000, an unsuccessful campaign to oust Democratic Supreme Court Justice Alice Robie Resnick was funded by $4 million in undisclosed donations compiled by business groups.

        State Treasurer Joe Deters acknowledged earlier this month that contributors were steered to the Hamilton County Republican party to help fund his campaign. The donors included groups that do business with the treasurer's office. Mr. Deters has said he supports the proposed reforms.

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