HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0445.015 2014-2016Murashige, Laura
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From: Christine Trecker <christinet54@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, August 31, 2015 12:22 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Resolutions 266-15 & 267-15
Attachments: Big Island County Council Testimony.docx
Please find my testimony attached for council meeting on 9/2/15. Mahalo
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Ref. Date SEP 0 2 2015
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August 31, 2015
T0: Big Island County Council
RE: Resolution 266-15 and Resolution 267-15 - In Strong Support
Council Meeting 9/2/15
Dear Council Members,
Please vote yes for Resolution 267-15 and Resolution 266-15, a strengthened version of an earlier
Resolution the Council passed to amend the constitution overturning the Supreme Court's Citizens
United ruling. The dramatic increase in corporate campaign spending nationwide is putting voters
on the sidelines of both local and national elections. Excessive campaign spending is clearly related
to recent Supreme Court rulings that have given corporations the constitutional right to spend
unlimited amounts of money in the name of "free speech".
In Hawaii's 2014 elections, $7.4 million was spent by 29 Super PACs to support and oppose
candidates. Incessant big -budget "message -shaping" TV and radio ads, glossy mailers and
telemarketing overshadowed grassroots campaigning and candidate debates. If we want to restore
our democratic ideals and engage citizens, we must put a lid on out of control campaign spending
by special interests.
These Resolutions spell out an important strategy that must be taken: Amend the Constitution to
clarify that corporations are not people with constitutional rights and that unlimited campaign
spending is not free speech.
Please make it clear that voters come first in a democracy. I urge you to pass Resolutions 266-15
and 267-15.
Thank you.
Christine Trecker