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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS <br /> DATE: June 18, 2012 Re: Comm. No. 735/Res. No. 263-12 <br /> PLACE: West Hawai`i Civic Center <br /> Kailua-Kona, Hawaii <br /> TIME: 11:28 a.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Governmental Relations, to which was referred Resolution No. 263-12, reports as <br /> follows: <br /> Resolution No. 263-12, transmitted by Council Member Brittany Smart, via Communication 735, dated <br /> May 22, 2012, calls upon the United State Congress to pass and send to the States for ratification a <br /> constitutional amendment to reverse Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010), and to <br /> clarify that corporations are not entitled to the constitutional protection or rights of natural persons. <br /> Ms. Smart explained there is a nationwide effort for municipalities to pass similar resolutions asking the <br /> Federal government for a Constitutional amendment, and the States would have to ratify it. Ms. Smart <br /> thanked our Hawaii State Legislature for being the first Legislature in the nation to pass a similar <br /> resolution and asked Council Members to support this effort. Mr. Yoshimoto expressed support for <br /> Resolution No. 263-12. Mr. Hoffmann also expressed support, but pointed out that there are several <br /> reasons why corporations in the nation have achieved the status of being "persons." Mr. Hoffmann <br /> disagreed that corporations should be given unlimited campaign funding power, and stated that he would <br /> vote in favor of Resolution No. 263-12 on that basis. Ms. Ford stated that it is out of balance for <br /> corporations to be able to donate large sums of money to a political campaign without having to be <br /> identified as do private citizens. <br /> Your Committee on Governmental Relations is in accord with the purpose and intent of <br /> Resolution No. 263-12, and recommends its adoption. <br /> ke <br /> AYES NOES A&E EX Respectfully submitted, <br /> BLAS X <br /> FORD X COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL <br /> HOFFMANN X RELATIONS <br /> IKEDA X <br /> ONISHI X <br /> PILAGO X <br /> SMART X K. A EL ' LAGO, AIR <br /> YAGONG X GRC REPORT NI. 16 <br /> YOSHIMOTO X ADOPTED: JUL 0 3 2012 <br />