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Republicans continue to press for election changes that have already been rejected by Democrats in the state House. Republicans press on
for election reformBy Richard Borreca
Star-BulletinYesterday Rep. Galen Fox (R, Waikiki), the GOP House leader, said he would force two election reform bills to the floor today for debate.
One bill, which is similar to a bill already moving in the Senate, would trigger a vote recount when the margin of victory is 1 percentage point or less of the total votes cast in the race.
Another bill, however, is more controversial. Fox is proposing that people doing business with the state be banned from contributing to state elections.
A similar bill was pushed through by the city in 1997, but struck down in state courts, which said the matter had to be handled by the state Legislature.
"This bill would end the corrupt practice of contractors giving money to the officials who award contracts," Fox said.
The state's office of procurement was set up almost a decade ago to stop the practice, but architects, engineers and accountants who do non-bid work for the state still make many contributions to politicians.
The state House rejected a similar measure last year.
Meanwhile, opposition is growing against a Senate proposal to return operation of state elections to the lieutenant governor's office.
Ray Pua and Julie Duldulao, with the Elections Appointment and Review Panel, criticized a Senate Judiciary Committee report, recommending the switch.
"Part of our responsibility is to establish performance standards for the chief elections officer," said Pua, chairman of the panel.
Duldulao called the proposal a "step backward."
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