Report Title:
Silver Legislature; Campaign Financing; Comprehensive Funding
Description:
Establishes a comprehensive public funding program for qualified candidates for public office.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2444 |
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TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC FUNDING ELECTION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the pervasive influence of private contributions and expenditures on public elections in the State undermines democracy and the rights of all Hawaii citizens to vote for the candidate of their choice and to enjoy equal and meaningful participation in the democratic process. These rights are guaranteed by the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, as well as sections 1, 2, 4, and 8 of article I of the state constitution.
The legislature further finds that candidates for statewide office who lack access to personal wealth or wealthy donors are precluded from running a competitive campaign because their voices are drowned out by those who can afford to saturate their constituents with television, radio, and other expensive mass-media communications. Furthermore, the dramatic influx of private money, coupled with recent high-profile law enforcement investigations and prosecutions of campaign finance abuses, have undermined the public's confidence in the political process and fueled the public perception of corruption in Hawaii politics.
The legislature believes that the dominance of private funding in state elections also burdens candidates and elected officials with the incessant rigors of fundraising and decreases the time available to carry out their public responsibilities.
Further, private funding creates a danger of actual corruption by compelling elected officials to accept money from private interests that are directly affected by governmental actions.
The purpose of this Act is to create a comprehensive public funding system for state elective office political campaigns that will offer a viable and competitive alternative to private funding sources, thereby substantially reducing or eliminating the deleterious effects of private financing of state office political campaigns.
SECTION 2. Candidates for elected offices of the State who voluntarily run for office as a comprehensive public funding candidate shall:
(1) Seek comprehensive public funding for the primary election campaign period if the candidate:
(A) Resides in the district from which election is sought;
(B) Agrees not to accept or use any private money, including loans, and, if elected, while in office until the next election cycle begins; and
(C) Collects the required number of $5 qualifying contributions from registered voters in the district;
(2) Receive funding from general revenues and report any expenditure electronically within twenty-four hours of spending or making a commitment to spend campaign funds; and
(3) Be guilty of a misdemeanor if the candidate knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly violates any provision of this Act.
A person convicted under this section shall be disqualified from holding elective public office for a period of four years from the date of conviction and, if elected, shall be removed from office.
SECTION 3. The campaign spending commission shall establish an independent, bipartisan committee to review the progress of the comprehensive public funding program established under this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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