Campaign Spending Commission

Campaign Spending Commission Meeting
Leiopapa A Kamehameha Building, Room 204
March 11, 2009
10:00 a.m.

Members Present:
Paul Kuramoto, Steven Olbrich, Gino Gabrio, Dean Robb, Michael Weaver 

Staff Present:
Barbara Wong, Tony Baldomero, Grant Tanimoto, Ellen Kojima

Call to Order:
Meeting convened at 10:00 a.m. with Chairperson Kuramoto presiding.

Consideration of Minutes:
Commissioner Gabrio moved to approve the minutes of the February 11, 2009 meeting.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Weaver.  Motion carried. (Olbrich-abstained)

New Business:
Legislation Update
SB 93   –  Establishes a grace period for return of excess nonresident contributions; requires noncandidate committees to file a report due 7/31 in election years; eliminates short form reporting – Passed 3rd reading and transmitted to the House.

HB 215  –  Recodification bill – Did not pass 3rd reading, recommitted to House Finance committee.

HB 345  –  Amends the start of the pilot project for comprehensive public funds of Hawaii county council elections – Passed 3rd reading and transmitted to the Senate

HB 539  –  Unclear on registration and reporting requirements.  Permits corporation or company to use unlimited treasury funds to contribute to candidates. – Did not pass 3rd reading, recommitted to House Judiciary committee.

Discussion held on corporate contributions. The House Judiciary Committee amended language in the recodification bill (HB 215 HD1).  The House Finance Committee further amended the language in regards to corporate contributions in HB 215 HD2, providing for registration and reporting by companies using treasury funds and creating a $50,000 limit on contributions by a company using treasury funds to its own noncandidate committee. 

Currently, because of the Tavares litigation, corporations and companies may contribute unlimited funds from their treasury and do not have to register and report, as the Commission is not enforcing the limits and registration on advice of the Attorney General’s office. However, corporations and companies are subject to the limits in Hawaii Revised Statutes section 11-204(a) ($2,000, $4,000, $6,000).

Launch of New Website
ICSD, Karen Higa, built a new website for the Commission with a clean, crisp look.  Associate Director Tony Baldomero took a class in Plone, a website management system, then moved all material from the old website to the new website, tweaked the site, and launched the new website on March 9, 2009.

Special Election Update
The special election for the Honolulu City Council District 3 vacancy is set for April 23, 2009.  Reporting information, reporting schedule and training sessions have been established and posted on the Commission’s website and sent to the 11 candidates that have filed to run.

Commissioner Weaver moved to convene an executive session to consult with counsel.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Robb.  Motion carried unanimously. – 10:45 a.m.

Public session reconvened – 11:15 a.m.

Next Meeting:
Scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.

No further business to discuss, Commissioner Robb moved to adjourn the meeting.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Weaver.  Motion carried unanimously.  Meeting adjourned at 11:18 a.m.