HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0446.003 2014-2016P/couNcrL
Murashige, Laura
From: LWV Hawaii County <Iwvhawaiicty@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2015 6:52 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony for Resolution No. 267-15, Sep. 2, 2015
Attachments: Sept 2 2015 testimony Res 266-15 and 267-15.pdf
Please find the testimony attached. Thank you.
Donna Oba, Co -President
League of Women Voters of Hawaii County
tel (808) 933-8683
lwvhawaiictykkgmail.com
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this e-mail transmission and any attachment is confidential. If
you are not the intended recipient, please do not transmit or disclose this communication. If you have received this
communication in error, please notify IwvhawaiictyC2gmail. com as soon as possible, and delete it from your computer
without retaining any copies. Thank you.
C
C, CD c7
Golo
-A
>ri�
Comm. No: L4 `'[ 4 1 3
Ref. To: GD
Ref. Date SEP 0 2 205
10
P.O. Box 6651 Hilo, HI 96721
www.lwv-hawaii.com/hawaii.htm 1808.933.86831 Iwvhawaiicty@gmail.com
Contact: Donna Oba, Co -President,
League of Women Voters of Hawaii County
808-884-5299
Iwvh awa i i ctVRa m a i l. co m
September 1, 2015
Chair Dru Kanuha
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Re: Testimony in Support of Resolution Nos. 266-15 and 267-15
Chair Dru Kanuha, Vice Chair Valerie Poindexter and Councilmembers:
The League of Women Voters of Hawaii County strongly supports the intent of Resolution
No. 266-15, which asks the County of Hawaii Council to urge Hawai'i's Congressional
delegation to propose and pass a constitutional amendment that corporations are not
people with constitutional rights, and that unlimited campaign spending is not free speech.
The League also strongly supports Resolution No. 267-15, which asks the Council to
approve for inclusion in the 2015 Hawaii State Association of Counties' legislative package
a request that the State Legislature urge Hawai7s Congressional delegation to propose
and pass such a constitutional amendment.
The U.S. Supreme Court has made a series of decisions including Buckley v. Valeo (1976),
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010), SpeechNow. org v. FEC (2010),
etc. that have affected the areas of campaigns and elections, issues in which the League of
Women Voters has been active since its inception.
Voters are supposed to be at the center of our political process. But unlimited expenditures
from millionaires, corporations, unions, and trade associations overwhelm citizens' voices,
lead to corruption, and unfairly disrupt the election process. In this current media -saturated
society, well -funded special interest groups can buy a much bigger megaphone than a
single person speaking at a public meeting.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, community based organization that encourages the informed and
active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
Hawai'i.County Council
Resolution Nos.. 266 and 267
September 2, 2015
Page 2
Citizens United v. FEC in particular unleased corporate spending shrouded in secrecy. The
lack of transparency of funding sources undermines the voters' ability to make informed
decisions and makes corruption more likely.
Our democracy belongs to the people — not special interests. We urge you to pass these
two resolutions. Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony.
Donna Oba
Donna Oba, Co -President
League of Women Voters of Hawaii County