HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	143
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

urging the president of the united states and united states congress to support the government by the people act which strives to return to the principle of a government of, by, and for the people.

     WHEREAS, the atmosphere around politics has been tainted by individuals who use money and power to try and manipulate the system; and

     WHEREAS, the voices of everyday Americans are not being heard because excessively large donations dominate the financing of campaigns; and

     WHEREAS, the Government By the People Act is the first step to creating a government of, by, and for the people; and

     WHEREAS, the Act has four key provisions dealing with balancing the power between wealthy donors and donors who cannot contribute as much to a campaign including:

     (1)  Creating the Freedom from Influence Fund to match contributions of up to $150 to participating candidates by a ratio of 6-to-1 or more;

     (2)  Providing a $25 refundable tax credit for small contributions;

     (3)  Providing enhanced matching funds in the final 60 days of a general election for candidates in high cost races; and

     (4)  Creating people PAC's, or small donor committees, that aggregate the voices and power of ordinary citizens rather than wealthy donors; and

     WHEREAS, time and again, our government fails to produce the policy outcomes that the majority of Americans support; from strong investments in job creation, roads, and rails, to a robust minimum wage and a fair tax burden for the top one percent; and

     WHEREAS, the Government By the People Act employs three basic strategies to accomplish its policy objectives in the current electoral environment:

     (1)  Amplifying the voices of ordinary citizens by matching small contributions with public funds;

     (2)  Empowering more Americans to participate in campaigns by providing a tax credit for small political contributions; and

     (3)  Helping grassroots candidates fight back against special interest outside spending by providing an additional late-campaign match; and

     WHEREAS, these key elements combine with other features to create a voluntary system that most candidates should ultimately choose to use because it frees them from the burdens and obligations of large-dollar fundraising and provides a more attractive way to run for office that is responsive to current campaign conditions; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, that the President of the United States and the United States Congress are urged to support the Government By the People Act in order to maintain the integrity and legitimacy of our democracy; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and Hawaii's congressional delegation.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Government By the People Act