Digital Sunshine Is One Bright Idea

Soon, Congress will make a big scene about campaign finance reform.

Again.

But the states, those laboratories of innovation, have a better idea: Quit pretending to clean up politics with more and more regulations. Instead, try freedom. Try disclosure. Make campaign finance data available instantly to the public, by computer.

More than a dozen states have embraced “digital sunlight” laws. Washington and Idaho, unfortunately, are laggards. But there are glimmers of progress here, including Washington’s gradual move into electronic reporting and proposals like House Bill 2435, requiring immediate disclosure of last-minute campaign gifts.

The role model, though, is California. Last fall, with only five dissenting votes, California’s Legislature passed a law phasing in requirements that campaign contributions be reported promptly, by computer modem. In turn, the state will release the data to the public on the Internet and by e-mail.

This makes it possible for voters to know before the election who is being bought by whom. For details, explore California’s World Wide Web site at www.calvoter.org An ordinary desktop computer can sort digitized campaign finance data in a flash. Who are the top 20 givers to candidate X or initiative Y? Which candidates got money from industry Z? Who’s paying for those deceptive, decisive, last-minute attack campaigns?

In the past, these questions have been difficult to answer before the election is over. That’s because contribution reports are submitted on paper, stowed in filing cabinets and laboriously scanned into computers.

Campaigns and donors take advantage of this by timing the most odious gifts and attack ads to the 11th hour, when the tale can’t be told until it’s too late.

But electronic disclosure of contributions is timely. And it’s doable. It could transform campaign financing. The risk of discovery might deter questionable gifts and ad campaigns.

Digital sunshine has one more advantage over the old regulatory approach. It preserves freedom of political speech. Americans have a right to support politicians and causes with their money as well as their words and their time. We simply ought to do so out in the open. Then, the tactics that have created so much cynicism and distrust can be traced to the source. Regulations have spawned chaos and evasion. Digital sunshine offers accountability, and that would be healthier for everyone.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = John Webster/For the editorial board