Many Contributors’ Jobs, Employers Not Told to FEC : Politics: Bush, Clinton fail to comply, a study says. A letter reminding candidates of their responsibility is delayed.

Both President Bush and Democrat Bill Clinton are effectively hiding their dependence on special interest money by failing to identify the occupation and employer of more than half of their contributors, according to a new study made public Wednesday.

Under law, each candidate for federal office must make his or her “best effort” to obtain the name, address, occupation and employer of those who give more than $200.

By failing to divulge the information, candidates thwart efforts by the media, political scientists and reformers to determine how much money they are getting from special interest groups.

Meanwhile, it was learned that the Federal Election Commission has delayed mailing a letter drafted by the commission staff that would remind federal candidates of their obligation to obtain the occupation and employer of such contributors. The letter was circulated June 15 and delayed because one of the commissioners objected, the FEC acknowledged, but it portrayed the matter as routine.

Ellen S. Miller, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, which released the study, said the FEC’s failure to obtain better compliance with the law contradicts the commission’s claim that federal campaign contributions are fully disclosed.

“The FEC says it takes pride in giving the public the ‘best disclosure program in Washington,’ ” said Miller, whose group advocates reform of campaign financing.

“But the truth is that FEC enforcement of the law is so inadequate it allows candidates to hide the true sources of millions of dollars in contributions. Unless the FEC starts enforcing the law, candidates will continue to ignore the reporting requirements and the voters will continue to be left in the dark about who is paying for campaigns.”

Bush has received $17.4 million in individual donations of more than $200 each since January, 1991; $10.9 million--or nearly 63%--came from contributors who did not identify their occupation and employer.

Clinton has received more than $8 million in individual donations of more than $200; $4.3 million--more than 53%--came from contributors who failed to identify their occupation and employer.

Independent presidential contender Ross Perot, who is financing his campaign primarily with his own money, was not included in the study.

Nearly $9 million contributed to House and Senate incumbents in the current election came from contributors who also failed to identify occupations and employers, the study showed.

In California, two Senate candidates were among those with the highest proportion of contributors who failed to identify occupation and employer, the study said. They were Reps. William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton), who failed to identify 70.3% of his donations, and Barbara Boxer (D-Greenbrae) who failed to identify 43.6%. Dannemeyer lost the Republican nomination to run for the two-year Senate seat; Boxer won the Democratic nomination for the six-year seat.

The delayed FEC letter was circulated to commissioners by staff director John Surina. It was to have been signed by Commission Chairwoman Joan D. Aikens, instructing federal candidates to comply strictly with the requirement to obtain the occupation and employer of each contributor. The letter was not sent because at least one commissioner objected to it.

Scott Moxley, spokesman for the commission, said the letter was delayed because one commissioner wanted it to be discussed at a meeting scheduled for today. He said the commissioner who objected to the letter did not explain why.