Legislation on super PAC donors advances

A bill in the Legislature aims to make it easier for voters to understand who is supporting and funding political action committees.

The bill targets super PACs that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money on elections.

Sen. Gilbert Keith-Agaran (D, Waihee-Wailuku-Kahului) says super PACs are becoming increasingly important, not just on the mainland, but also in Hawaii. He introduced a bill intended to peel back the layers of the organizations that are pouring millions of dollars into Hawaii campaigns.

The proposal would make a super PAC reveal whether its contributors and recipients are also required to disclose campaign spending information. If so, the super PAC would have to provide access to that information. The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the bill Wednesday.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Jar of donations for ailing child stolen by man in filmed heist

PAHOA, Hawaii » A donation jar used to raise money for an 8-year-old girl who needs a heart transplant was stolen from a Hawaii island store Monday.

Irie Hawaii manager Jose Miranda said customers had contributed at least $200 for Madisyn Tamaki, a third-grade student at Pahoa Elementary School.

Surveillance footage at the store shows a man grabbing the jar from a counter and stuffing it into his pants on Monday, Hawaii News Now reported.

"I was watching the video and my heart just dropped to my toes, you know?" Miranda said. "Everybody has some kind of etiquette — even robbers, even burglars. And for him to not even think about this 8-year-old needing a heart transplant to me is mind-boggling. That’s beyond coldhearted to me."

Hawaii County police spokeswoman Chris Loos told the Associated Press in an email Wednesday that police are investigating the incident at the Pahoa Village Road store as a third-degree theft.

Madisyn has been transferred to the Seattle Children’s Hospital, where she is awaiting a heart transplant, family members said. She has been diagnosed with acute fulminant myocarditis, an inflammatory disease that attacks the heart muscle, according to a fundraising website set up for her.

The medical bills and travel costs for the family are mounting, the site said.

"We’re just all praying that a heart will become available for her," said an aunt, Melissa Dunn. "Maddie is a very intelligent and vibrant child and she’s got much to achieve for her future."