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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0187.002 2012-2014 comments on Resolution 84-13 re. public funded elections for Hawai'i County Council, 9 AM Tuesday, April 9, 2013, Hilo from Cory Harden, PO Box 10265, Hilo, Occupied Hawai'i 96721 808-968-8965 mh©interpac.net I don't know if everything in this resolution is a good idea, but I support public funded elections, and offer these comments. This is a summary of what seems to be the latest version of SB381 HD2,from the Legislature website: Changes funding formula for the comprehensive public funding pilot project to the average of the amount spent by the winning candidates in the previous two county council elections of every district. Limits the number of candidates in the pilot program to fifteen per election period. Makes an appropriation of an unspecified amount to the Campaign Spending Commission. The first item, averaging, is supported by the League of Women Voters. They said all candidates who qualified for the 2012 pilot public funding program felt funding should be the same for every district. Rene Siracusa testified "The playing field should be even, so that poorer districts (which may also be geographically larger and present increased campaigning logistical problems) can have the same sized pot as richer districts." And here's some great testimony given to the Legislature recently in support of public funded elections: • Sierra Club Hawai'i said that in 1997, when Bank of Hawai'i's political action committee announced it would only give money to candidates who voted for an Economic Revitalization Task Force, that met the legal definition of bribery. • Chris Yuen said "The effort to make people more important than money in our democracy has unfortunately been hobbled by recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions." • The League of Women Voters said "...massive inputs of money including monies from individuals and organizations outside Hawaii, and...disturbingly anonymous contributions...[have] dismayed us...' • Kory Payne of Voter Owned Hawaii said "...we all know corporations give money to get a return on their investments." He quoted a delegate to the 1978 Hawai'i Constitutional Convention: " . . . if we think these tremendous sums being spent [on elections], these tremendous sums being contributed, are not sums for which we are going to ultimately pay because of poor government . . . and because of undue influence . . we are fooling ourselves."... • Tom Coffman said, "I worked on a reform bill forty years ago. To my surprise, various people from the business community stepped forward as allies. They were sick of the constant pressure to give money and wanted only a level playing field." • Lorraine Kohn said public funding "allows legislators to be statesmen and women instead of fundraising politicians." Mahalo. Comm. No. ( b 7-7' 2 Ref. To: P Ref. Date APR 0 9 20J3