Senate Democrats Help Each Other Raise Campaign Cash
Majority Democrats in the Hawaii state Senate often vote together as a bloc.
This session, many of them are helping each other raise money for their expected re-election campaigns.
A March 26 email from Majority Leader Brickwood Galuteria to his 23 colleagues details plans for a “Majority Master Calendar” that lists fundraisers for senators.
“We’ll begin with are [sic] initial fundraising dates and eventually add significant events that we can support each other on,” Galuteria wrote. “Please relay your dates and locations, neighbor islands included and we’ll add as we go.”
Reached by phone Wednesday, Galuteria explained, “We just started it — it’s just informational and all through personal emails. We are not using state technology.”
Asked about the awkward appearance of group fundraising while senators are still deliberating over legislation that will likely involve many campaign donors, Galuteria said, “That has been going on for ages. There is no law against it.”
Most States Ban Session Fundraising
Galuteria is correct — there’s no law against fundraising during session.
That’s because Hawaii legislators have killed past proposals to prohibit such fundraising, though good government advocates think such a law is needed to end pay-to-play practices.
The says 29 state legislatures restrict giving and receiving campaign contributions during session.
“Of those, 15, including Virginia, prohibit any contributions during legislative sessions,” according to a . “Fourteen others, including Kentucky, restrict donations from lobbyists.”
Galuteria defended Hawaii’s practice.
“We work all year round, too, not only during session,” said Galuteria.
The Majority Master Calendar is intended to make sure senator fundraisers “don’t bump up against each other — it’s so we don’t conflict with each other’s dates. We want to support them all.”
Such was the case for March 29 fundraisers for Gil Kahele at the Plaza Club and Clarence Nishihara at Keehi Lagoon Memorial Park, both scheduled at almost the exact same time.
What works better is joint fundraisers, like the one Davie Ige and Rosalyn Baker are scheduled to hold at the Plaza Club May 1, according to Galuteria’s email.
Senate fundraisers this month and next were or are for Glenn Wakai (April 11), Kalani English (April 12), Maile Shimabukuro (April 23), Galuteria (April 24), Donna Mercado Kim (April 30 or May 2) and Will Espero (May 2).
As of Wednesday, the state Campaign Spending Commission had not listed any of them on its .
Josh Green, Malama Solomon and Donovan Dela Cruz have already held two fundraisers each this session. Ron Kouchi held one.
That’s 14 senators total, a majority of the majority. (There are 25 senators, but just one is a Republican.)
“Again, don’t forget to send in your fundraising dates even if it’s out of session,” Galuteria wrote in his email. “Have a great Prince Kuhio Day. Mahalo.”
Many Democrats in the state House of Representatives also hold fundraisers during session, too, sometimes on the same nights.
Session adjourns May 3.
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