Senate committee gives voters
choice on holding Con Con

It also voted to take the ‘stop’ out of the so-called
‘stop Linda Lingle’ campaign finance reform bill

By Craig Gima
Star-Bulletin

The Senate Judiciary Committee last night passed a measure to put the question of whether to have a constitutional convention on the November general election ballot.

It also voted to take the "stop" out of the so-called "stop Linda Lingle" campaign finance reform bill.

"We believe it is fair, just and appropriate for voters to have an opportunity to vote on the Con Con question in 1998," said Senate Judiciary Co-Chairman Matt Matsunaga (D, Palolo).

Matsunaga said voters did not have a fair vote on the Con Con question in 1996 because they did not know that blank or spoiled ballots would be counted as no votes.

"The Legislature is now stepping in to give the voters another shot," said Co-Chairman Avery Chumbley (D, Kihei).

Labor unions, supporters of same-sex marriage and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs yesterday testified against the measure. They said a convention is not needed and could take away rights they have under the Constitution.

Referring to the so-called "stop Lingle" bill, Matsunaga called the Senate version of the bill "fair and equitable."

The Senate bill puts new restrictions on how much money political parties can receive and give to candidates, but makes it effective during the election period that begins in 1999.

The House version of the bill would put the restrictions in effect this year. Republicans say that would hurt their candidate for governor because incumbent Ben Cayetano has already raised significantly more money than Lingle and other challengers.

Senate amendments to the bill would also add new campaign disclosure rules for the upcoming election.

The bill would require campaigns and candidates to report, within 48 hours, contributions of more than $500 that come in during the last two weeks of a campaign. Under current law, donations in the last two weeks are not reported until after the election.

The bill would also require earlier reporting of large contributions and greater reporting by independent efforts on behalf of a candidate.

"It is an opportune time to enact significant campaign reform," Matsunaga said.

Lingle said she supports the Senate bill.

"The way it came about is very strange but I'm not going to argue about the result," she said.

Lingle said the bill does not go far enough and suggested it should require candidates to disclose before an election any salaries or compensation they receive from corporations or other employers. Senators on the committee said they are already required to disclose that information.

During decision-making on the measure, the Judiciary Committee added an amendment which Matsunaga said would put some teeth into campaign laws.

Under the amendment, contributors would sign a sworn statement that a campaign contribution came from their own funds.

If someone lies, the commission could use the statement in investigations of campaign fund-raising abuse.

Staying alive Here are some key bills moving in the Legislature: Budget: Lays off as many as 431 state workers, eliminates 987 vacant positions and transfers 172 employees from the payroll of the general fund to special funds. Cuts $275 million from the current fiscal biennium. Severance pay and early retirement: Gives laid-off state employees generous severance or early retirement benefits. Severance package would pay up to 13 weeks depending on years of service, and health and life insurance benefits extended up to a year. Tax reform: Omnibus measure that increases the general excise tax from 4.0 percent to 4.5 percent; raises the hotel room tax to 11.0 percent but exempts hotel rooms from the excise tax; grants several excise exemptions, including for aviation training facility, real estate investment trusts and for sales between wholesalers. Bishop estate: Limits compensation paid to trustees of the Bishop Estate and other nonprofit charitable trusts to “reasonable” levels set by a state probate judge. Campaign finance reform: Defangs what supporters of Republican gubernatorial candidate Linda Lingle have dubbed the "stop Lingle bill." Instead of being effective immediately upon approval for this campaign season, pushes back to Jan. 1, 1999, the start of new rules limiting how much a candidate can receive in individual campaign contributions, how much money a political party could give to a candidate, and how much an individual could donate to a political party. Constitutional convention: Puts the question of whether there should be a constitutional convention on the general election ballot in November. Land Use Commission: Renames and redefines the commission's powers over lands; gives the panel sole authority over conservation and "important" agricultural districts with counties handling urban and rural districts and zoning matters. Privatization: Allows state and county governments to continue with efforts to privatize government services, sets up a managed process for future privatization efforts and establishes commission to set up a procedure to implement private-public competition for government service. Waiahole Ditch: Authorizes special purpose revenue bonds of $10.2 million to purchase, improve and operate the water system.

LEGISLATURE UPDATE

A calendar of tomorrow's hearings -- to be held at the state Capitol, 415 S. Beretania St., unless noted:

HOUSE

None scheduled.

SENATE

None scheduled.