Cayetano not happy with
contribution reform bill

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By Bruce Dunford
Associated Press

Gov. Ben Cayetano said he, too, is not happy with the campaign contribution reform bill state lawmakers sent to him for approval, but it is not for the same reason Republican gubernatorial candidate Linda Lingle dislikes the bill.

Earlier this week, Lingle complained the measure restricting contributions from government contractors and corporations, banks and unions favors incumbents over their challengers.

Lingle said the new restrictions would make the contest unequal for newcomers to politics because incumbents can use public funds to mail fliers to their constituents and have full-time state-paid office staff to maintain community contacts.

Cayetano said his concern is that lawmakers exempted candidates for legislative offices from the prohibition on contributions from government contractors.

While the measure looks to eliminate influence on the executive's awarding of contracts, contributions from government contractors to legislative candidates also could influence legislative decisions, he said.

"Companies that do business with the state, while they cannot make contributions on the executive level, are still able to contribute to the legislators," he said. "As I understand it, the reasoning was that the Legislature is not the one which chooses the contractors."

When he asked why legislative candidates were being exempted from the contribution restrictions, he was told that it was the only way the measure would pass the Senate, the governor said.

Cayetano said he did not expect to veto the measure but might let it take effect without his signature.

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