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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS <br /> DATE: September 18, 2012 Re: Comm. No. 787/Res. No. 280-12 <br /> PLACE: West Hawai`i Civic Center <br /> Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i <br /> TIME: 3:50 p.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawai`i County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Governmental Relations, to which was referred Resolution No. 280-12, <br /> reports as follows: <br /> Resolution No. 280-12, transmitted by Council Member Brittany Smart, via Communication 787, <br /> dated July 13, 2012, urges the State Legislature to take immediate action to adequately fund the <br /> Hawai`i Campaign Spending Commission and a statewide comprehensive program upon <br /> convening the 2013 legislative session, and that the Council of the County of Hawai`i supports <br /> Legislative efforts to expand comprehensive public funding throughout the state. <br /> Chair Pilago informed the committee of Communication 787.1 from Kristin Izumi-Nitao, <br /> Executive Director, State of Hawai`i Campaign Spending Commission, which expresses <br /> concerns in expanding the comprehensive public funding program statewide when it does not <br /> have the proper funding or staff to run the program. Ms. Smart responded that she introduced <br /> the resolution to ask the State to fund the program on behalf of Voter Owned Elections, and <br /> explained that the reason for it is because the Campaign Spending Commission is spending more <br /> money than it is taking in under the current program which is being funded voluntarily by people <br /> checking a box on their property tax to direct $3.00 into the fund. The resolution is asking for <br /> additional money to be put into the fund by the State. <br /> Mr. Ikeda stated he was a beneficiary of the public funding in his campaign but would like to see <br /> a more even distribution of money to each council district, and have a limit on the amount that <br /> can be spent by any one candidate. He stated that he is not sure he can support it, although he <br /> did benefit from it, because the State might be running out of money. Mr. Hoffmann agreed with <br /> Mr. Ikeda that we should have a limit on campaign spending. He expressed support for the <br /> resolution because it is a step in the right direction and believes there should be a limit for <br /> different races when the Legislature considers it for statewide elections. <br /> Ms. Ford agreed with Mr. Ikeda and stated that when originally written it was to be limited to <br /> $10,000 for each candidate. This amount could be higher, but it should be equal across the <br /> board. She expressed support for the resolution to ask the State to fund the program. <br /> Mr. Yoshimoto agreed with Ms. Ford and Mr. Ikeda that public funding is an important tool. He <br /> expressed concern with each district not having the same amount of money, and suggested <br /> amending the resolution by adding that in the next election cycle, all nine districts would have <br /> the same amount of money. He stated that expanding it to a statewide basis would be good in <br /> that it would give people choices, as more candidates will seek office. <br /> GRC Report No. 20 <br />