Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3104, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide comprehensive public funding for candidates seeking election to office in the state house of representatives who voluntarily agree to abide by campaign contribution and campaign expenditure limits and meet other criteria.

Your Committee finds that many citizens feel a growing sense of frustration with our election process because of the practices of soliciting, raising, and spending large private campaign contributions. Also, reliance on private contributions makes it difficult for individuals without access to large private contributions to participate meaningfully in the electoral process. Your Committee believes this measure will begin to address some of these issues by evening out the playing field for all candidates, whether they are privately or publicly funded.

Your Committee has amended this measure by delaying the effective date until July 1, 2040, in order to continue discussion of the issues raised.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3104, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3104, S.D. 2.