A pilot project that allows Honolulu City Council candidates to receive up to $80,000 to run their entire 2002 election campaigns faces its final hurdle at the state Legislature. House approves
By Pat Omandam
Senate bill to fund
City Council elections
Star-BulletinYesterday was the last day for bills to be returned to the chamber where they started. House and Senate conferees must now work out their differences in the bills before the Legislature adjourns May 3.
Despite strong objections from House Republicans, the House Democratic majority approved a Senate bill yesterday that allows a limited number of candidates who agree to run only publicly funded races to receive $40,000 in public money for the first special election and, if needed, another $40,000 for a second runoff special election.
Rep. Brian Schatz (D, Makiki), who has championed campaign finance reform during his three years in office, said this pilot project is part of a matrix of campaign finance reform measures the state needs to implement.
Schatz pointed to the success of the Massachusetts state Legislature, where one-third of those elected in 2000 ran publicly funded campaigns.
Proponents believe public financing of political campaigns will attract qualified candidates who do have the financial resources to mount credible campaigns and who do not want to compromise their integrity by accepting large contributions from special-interest groups.
"It levels the electoral playing field," Schatz said.
Opponents, however, said while the idea sounds good, the Senate bill in question has many flaws that should be fixed before it moves forward. Seventeen Republicans opposed the measure.
House Minority Leader Galen Fox (R, Waikiki) said the bill is unconstitutional because it limits the number of candidates who can participate in the program. Also, the amount of public money given is not enough nowadays to mount a credible City Council campaign, which Fox estimated is between $150,000 and $200,000.
Rep. Colleen Meyer (R, Waiahole) added that taxpayers may object to the government giving public money to candidates they do not support.
Union members cannot be compelled to use their dues to support candidates, and neither should the public, she said.
"This bill, in my estimation, is welfare for politicians."
In the Senate, a bill to reform state privatization laws failed on an 11-to-13 vote. The bill included a section giving preference to local contractors, and senators objected to the two proposals in one bill, according to Sen. President Robert Bunda.
Bunda, who voted to support the measure, said that others are counting on another privatization bill moving from the house. But, he added, the measure to increase local preferences in contracting was killed for the year.
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