![]() Many sunshine bills need the public to push to make sure they get through. It’s important because the bill that would have beefed up the existing partial public financing system is already dead. That means it’s time to send a message to FIN Chair Kyle Yamashita to nudge him to act on the measure that has been one of the most talked about of the session. ![]() Senate Bill 1543, which would set up a new program providing substantial public finance for candidates for state and county offices, is awaiting a hearing in the House Finance Committee. Senate Judiciary has already heard the measure but has not made a decision on it. People need to know who they are voting for. Its companion, Senate Bill 197, appears stuck in the House awaiting a Finance Committee hearing.Īnother message to give Rhoads: House Bill 1294 that requires candidates to use their legal names for election purposes is a no-brainer. ![]() House Bill 92 is scheduled for a hearing Thursday morning in Senate Judiciary so if you’re going to reach out to Judiciary Chair Karl Rhoads on other bills put in a good word for that one. The Campaign Spending Commission is particularly interested in bills that increase penalties on super PACs that misbehave. SB 201 was passed by the Senate but languishes in the House, awaiting a Finance Committee hearing. HB 724 has passed both chambers but has been amended, so its fate will be decided in conference committee later in April. The bills also put a similar ban on organizations that receive grants-in-aid from the state and counties. Both would prohibit contributions from owners, officers and immediate family members of companies that have state or county contracts. This bill passed both chambers but is headed for conference committee because of amendments.Ĭampaign finance reform advocates have been trying to tighten the flow of money from government contractors to lawmakers for a few years, and this year House Bill 724 and Senate Bill 201 are the vehicles to do just that. But everyone else can still write those checks as much as they want. Time to let Chair Karl Rhoads know to get them moving.Īlong the same line is Senate Bill 1493, which bans contributions from lobbyists during session as well as just before and just after session. In fact, HB 89 has been waiting since Feb. Last year, they eliminated fundraising events during session and this year the Campaign Spending Commission and the Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct each submitted proposals to stop all contributions during session.īoth House Bill 726 and House Bill 89 passed the House unanimously and have been awaiting a hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee. ![]() So here is the contact info for your lawmakers in case you want to start emailing or calling now.Īt the top of the list of reforms lawmakers just can’t seem to come to grips with is banning the flow of cash to their campaigns during the legislative session. Most of these bills must be heard by April 5 or April 6 - next Wednesday for single referral bills or Thursday for others. Now’s the time to send messages to your lawmakers and specific committee chairs demanding that they get scheduled. There’s just a week to go until some pretty important sunshine bills will be dead if they don’t get heard in committee. Short takes, outtakes, observations and other stuff you should know about public information, government accountability and ethical leadership in Hawaii. ![]()
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