State Sen. Ray Miller gave state officials no choice but to proceed with action against him for ignoring campaign-finance reporting rules. There's no reason to have the requirements if they're not enforced.

The secretary of state's office has tried for years to get a complete accounting of the Columbus Democrat's campaign spending going back to his 2002 run for the Senate. The office on Friday filed a formal complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission, charging Miller with three campaign-law violations: failing to file a true statement, failing to keep an accurate account and failing to correct inaccurate reports.

The commission fined Miller $1,500 a year ago for failing to submit the necessary information. The panel could fine Miller again, but his dismal record would seem to merit a referral to the Franklin County prosecutor's office.

Documentation of campaign expenses is required to keep politicians from using their campaign funds as ATMs for themselves and their cronies. The secretary of state's office said the senator still hasn't cleared up questions about nearly 40 checks totaling $16,207 given to him by his campaign. Miller, one of Ohio's most-experienced lawmakers, also is accused of receiving double reimbursements for some of his expenses.

He blamed sloppy bookkeeping by a former campaign treasurer and the destruction of campaign records when an office was moved.

His lack of compliance is a disservice to state government and to legislators who play by the rules.