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IN AND AROUND THE CAPITOL
For The Kids
Panel hears support for
campaign finance billBriefly...
By Pat Omandam
Star-BulletinDevin Nordberg admits he's usually a fairly cynical person.
But when it comes to a bill to give publicly funded campaigns a test during the 2002 City Council elections, Nordberg sees one of the best opportunities to really improve democracy in Hawaii.
"Imagine a political system where anyone can run for office with the support of the community, regardless of financial means or financial backing," said Nordberg, who testified before the state Legislature for the first time yesterday.
"Imagine a system where 'one person, one vote' is not overrun by 'one dollar, one vote.' "
The House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee is expected to approve the campaign finance reform bill, which provides public funding for candidates who voluntarily abide by contribution and spending limits in the 2002 Council elections.
The panel heard mostly favorable testimony on House Bill 1879 yesterday, with only the state Campaign Spending Commission questioning the value and impact of a test election.
Robert Y. Watada, commission executive director, said lawmakers instead should consider decreasing campaign contribution limits to 10 percent of what they are now if the problem is too much money in the election process.
Others, however, said private money determines who runs and gets elected to public office. They said national campaign reform is being stymied by special interests in Congress, so it is up to the states to test reform programs to build public support for "clean money" elections.
As proposed, the bill would allow as many as 27 qualified candidates -- who pledge not to accept or spend any other money -- to receive $30,000 for the September elections and another $15,000 for a runoff election if they are among the two with the most votes for their race.
Jean Aoki, legislative chairwoman for the League of Women Voters of Hawaii, said many potential candidates never get a chance to share their ideas because they get knocked out early in elections by others who have large campaign war chests.
"A seat in government should be accessible to all who qualify," Aoki said. "Accessibility should not be determined by how much money one can raise."
Will Best, executive director of the Hawaii Elections Project, said the candidates who spent the most money in 1998 won 86 percent of gubernatorial, legislative, mayoral and county council races in Hawaii, with winners outspending losers $3.16 to $1.
Corporations and unions contributed about 75 percent of the money used in those campaigns, forcing many candidates into a situation where they must accept those donations, knowing that they owe their success in part to only a few large donors, Best said.
"The public perception is that politicians listen first to their contributors," he said. "Whether or not this is true, it is what the majority of voters believe."
Briefly ...
COMPUCRIME:
It would be illegal to use someone else's computer, take information from it or delete data or programs without the consent of the owner, under a bill being heard today that toughens the state's laws on computer crimes.Senate Bill 2352, scheduled for a 2 p.m. hearing before the Senate Education Committee in Capitol Room 212, says computers not only enhance the harm of some traditional crimes, but are also the basis for new crimes based on the computer itself.
The measure repeals the current laws on computer crimes and replaces it with 11 new sections covering everything from fraud to invasion of privacy.
Under the proposal, it would be a Class C Felony for someone to use a computer or computer network, without consent, to buy items or services, damage or enhance someone's credit rating or to impersonate another person.
It would also be a crime to give out or sell computer software that creates false e-mail information or reveals the passwords of other individuals.
Using a computer to view another person's personal information also would be illegal.
IT'S ABOUT TIME:
Diane Wong recalls how her daughter's high school softball team had to use a public park off campus to practice while the boys' baseball team practiced at its on-campus field."Too many girls are being negatively impacted by the prevailing arrogant attitude," Wong said in testifying Monday in favor of Senate Bill 2475.
The bill seeks to prohibit discrimination in athletics on the basis of gender in public schools and requires the superintendent of education to develop a strategic plan to ensure gender equity in sports.
Supporting the intent of the bill, Superintendent Paul LeMahieu said a strategic plan will be drafted by staff and submitted to the gender equity advisory council for review.
A decision on the bill is scheduled for Friday.
Star-Bulletin staff
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