Ferraro's Disputed Exemption

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Geraldine Ferraro has handled with aplomb most of the questions thrown at her on the campaign trail. But she seemed evasive last week when asked why she has been so secretive about the income of her husband John Zaccaro, a wealthy New York real estate man. Like 20 other members of Congress, Ferraro has claimed an exemption from saying anything about a spouse's business activities in the financial-disclosure reports that all federal lawmakers must file.

Critics point out that the exemption is open only to a Congress member who has no knowledge of and derives no benefit from a spouse's business, but Ferraro is secretary-treasurer of her husband's company. The right-wing Washington Legal Foundation has called for an investigation by the House ethics committee. Ferraro said she would explain her reason for claiming the exemption in a letter to the committee but would not discuss it with the press. The mystery, in any event, will not last long. Under a different section of the same law, Ferraro as a vice-presidential candidate must report fully on her own and her family's finances. She promises not to claim any exemption and indeed to "disclose more than I'm required to do."