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From: Cory (Martha) Harden [mh@interpac.net]
Sent: Monday, October 05, 2009 6:56 AM {
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:; C ]Y : y]=1+I1
Subject: support Reso 238 PWIRC 10-6-09 ~;UUN
in support of Resolution 238-09
Hawai'i County Council Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations Committee
2:30 PM Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Ms. Cory (Martha) Harden, PO Box 10265, Hilo, Occupied Hawaii 96721
808-968-8965 mh interpac_net
Thank you to Pete Hoffmann for introducing this resolution to increase funding for public funding for Hawai'i
County Council elections, and to set up evaluation of this pilot program.
This takes us in a far better direction than the earlier Council resolution to postpone this program, introduced after
several Council members allegedly violated the Sunshine Law by meeting as a group with State legislators about
stalling the program.
The earlier Council resolution to postpone the program appeared to have several errors.
It had concerns about costs. But there is already enough money in the election fund to increase funding,
according to today's resolution.
It said costs tripled over two years for a Connecticut public funding program. But that was because they increased
the number of races funded.
It said Massachusetts ended its program due to costs. But many people say their legislature deliberately diverted
funding.
It said programs elsewhere were found to be unconstitutional--but this was only some parts of some programs.
It said County and State elections offices can't handle the extra work. But former Councilmember Bob Jacobson
feels the County office will be okay, and the State office should have started preparing some time ago.
Why should taxpayers should pay for campaigns? Because if they don't, special interests do, supporting
candidates who then vote for special interests, not the public good. That gives us headlines like--
Lack of government regulation leads to Wall Street melting down and taxpayers going trillions of dollars
into debt
People die, suffer, and go bankrupt from lack of health insurance
Large corporations, which paid over half of all Federal taxes about 50 years ago, now pay less than one
dollar out of ten
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One-third of America's largest corporations pay no taxes at all, in at least one of the first three years of this
decade.
Please support this resolution for a strong pilot public funding program for our elections.
10/5/2009
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