Publicly funded elections would counter corporate power

By Kory Payne

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Mar 13, 2013

~~<p>The issue of money in politics is here to stay, and the corruption that comes along with it needs to be addressed. House Bill 1481 would do just that by modernizing Hawaii's outdated public funding program for elections. The state House passed the bill, and it is now awaiting a hearing in the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee.</p>
<p>During Hawaii's 1978 Constitutional Convention, delegates foresaw the problem of private money in the lawmaking process and fought for the partial public funding program we now have. Unfortunately, the program no longer gives candidates enough money to be competitive. In the past election, only one candidate in more than 100 House and Senate campaigns utilized it. It's now time for an upgrade.</p>
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The issue of money in politics is here to stay, and the corruption that comes along with it needs to be addressed. House Bill 1481 would do just that by modernizing Hawaii's outdated public funding program for elections. The state House passed the bill, and it is now awaiting a hearing in the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee.

During Hawaii's 1978 Constitutional Convention, delegates foresaw the problem of private money in the lawmaking process and fought for the partial public funding program we now have. Unfortunately, the program no longer gives candidates enough money to be competitive. In the past election, only one candidate in more than 100 House and Senate campaigns utilized it. It's now time for an upgrade. Login for more...