We’ve all heard about the latest political “scandal.” President Clinton and the Democratic Party are accused of violating campaign finance laws, but Democrats say investigators should probe the Republican party as well.

With the politicians bickering whether Clinton “sold” the Lincoln bedroom, questions of campaign finance at lower levels is on the forefront. In Iowa, any change in the current law is unlikely.

Currently, campaigns are required to publicly disclose donations and spending. Candidates and parties are limited on the amount of money they can accept from individuals, political action committees and others. Trying to understand the laws and the red tape simply makes it more confusing.

Disclosure of campaign and party finances is how we find out about the abuses and scandals of campaigning. But some Iowa lawmakers want to make less information available to the public. Currently, Iowa candidates must disclose what money is coming in and going out, but there are no contribution or spending caps. Decreasing the amount of information Iowans have about these finances is not the solution. It may even be a breeding ground for abuses and fraud.

Change is needed. Because of loopholes, court decisions and partisanship, change is difficult. Although laws limit campaign contributions so that no one person or group can exert financial influence on politics, loopholes in the law allow independent spending.

Obviously, there is a problem. And we definitely need a solution. The current system encourages independent spending because it limits contributions. Any money political action committees give is also limited, which gives way to the formation of more of these groups. Cutting down on the disclosure laws is not the answer. It simply encourages fraud.