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It’s sad and it’s ugly, and it’s time for leadership in the House and Senate to lead.

If our leaders are not going to lead, they’re not deserving of the position or the title — and others need to step forward.

Taking a wait-and-see position, or forming a task force or commission to study and make recommendations will only reaffirm the public’s disdain for all of us — past, present and future political leaders.

We desperately need those of you in positions of leadership in the House and Senate to step forward today and lead.

You have the power — and you don’t require a bill or a law or a task force – to immediately:

1. Ban the practice of political fundraising during the legislative session.
2. End the unilateral power of a committee chair.
3. Require public votes to defer bills indefinitely, or to otherwise kill a bill.
4. Open the Capitol to the public – NOW.

The current practice of allowing committee chairs to solicit and accept $2,000 to $4,000 in campaign contributions (and more when bundled) at the very moment they are voting to pass or kill legislation that impacts those same donors – is legal corruption.

Allowing committee chairs the sole power to decide whether to hear a bill, to pass a bill or to kill a bill invites corruption – both illegal and legal. It’s common knowledge that some committee chairs will kill bills for personal and political reasons totally unrelated to the substance of the measure or the public impacts.

Some will kill a bill simply because a friend, colleague, or member of leadership asked them to do so. Now we know that some do it for cash stuffed into envelopes, trips to casinos and fancy dinners.

Yes, a majority of the members who sit on a committee can request and require a vote or a hearing. However, because this option is not mandatory or automatic, the member making such a request risks retaliation from the chairperson.

Contact Key Lawmakers

Senate President Ron Kouchi
senkouchi@capitol.hawaii.gov
808-586-6030

House Speaker Scott Saiki
repsaiki@capitol.hawaii.gov
808-586-6100

Your own district Representative and Senator – Identify them and their contact information here: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/fyl/

Requiring a documented committee vote as to whether to hear, pass or kill a bill removes that dynamic. The committee members themselves could caucus on and select which bills are to be heard, with their votes tallied for public review.

If the legislative calendar needs to be longer to accomplish transparency and accountability then add the days needed. Transparency and accountability should be our top priority, not simply expediency.

The public is welcome at bars and restaurants and at Costco and Walmart – the public should also be welcome at the State Capitol – NOW.

These are four critically important actions that leadership in the House and Senate, with support from the majority, could take today via their own internal rule-making. They don’t need a hearing or a bill; they only need strength of character and political will.

Next, all legislators must then roll up their sleeves and huddle with the campaign spending commission, the ethics commission, the office of elections, Common Cause and others to hammer out meaningful systemic reform.

Lower political campaign donation caps to $100. Cap the overall amount that can be raised and spent on campaigns. Prohibit paid lobbyists from sitting on boards and commissions. There are a dozen short-form bills with good titles available and waiting.

The list is long. The need is great.

Now is the time to act. Please take a moment to share your thoughts, hopes and demands with your legislators.