Campaign Spending Commission

Campaign Spending Commission Meeting
Leiopapa A Kamehameha Building, Room 204
January 14, 2009
10:00 a.m.

Members Present:
Paul Kuramoto, Steven Olbrich, Gino Gabrio, Dean Robb
Excused – 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 December 17, 2008.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Robb. Motion carried unanimously.

Approval of executive session minutes deferred until the next meeting.

Old Business:
No old business to discuss.

New Business:
Draft Conciliation Agreement 09-01  In Re the Matter of Hawaii Optometric Political Action Committee
Proposed conciliation agreement is to settle a claim of a $500 excess contribution by the Hawaii Optometric Political Action Committee to the Friends of Calvin Say campaign committee in violation of HRS section 11-204(a).  The excess contribution was self-reported by the Say campaign committee and returned within 30 days of receipt.  Staff recommends that the agreement be accepted and that Hawaii Optometric be assessed a fine of $150 to which respondent has agreed.

Commissioner Robb moved to accept the conciliation agreement.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Gabrio.  Motion carried unanimously.

Draft Conciliation Agreement 09-02 In Re the Matter of Jeffrey Stone, Pacific Northwest, Ltd.
Proposed conciliation agreement is to settle a claim of a $1,000 excess contribution made to the Todd Apo campaign committee in violation of HRS section 11-204(a).  The excess contribution was self-reported by the Apo campaign committee, but it was not returned within 30 days of receipt.  Staff recommends that the agreement be accepted and Respondents be assessed a fine of $260 and that the $1,000 excess contribution escheat to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund, to which Respondents have agreed.

Commissioner Robb moved to accept the conciliation agreement.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Gabrio.  Motion carried unanimously.

Communication to Commission:
Legislation 
CSC 03 –
As requested by Commissioners at the December 17 meeting the following changes have been made:
-added language for a grace period regarding non-resident contributions; and
-deleted robocalls from the definition of advertisement as the definition of advertisement includes “any communication”.

Also, the definition of electioneering communications was clarified.

Should there be legislation to repeal the non-resident contribution limits, the Commission has no position but asked that staff provide information to the legislature.

Staff Focus for 2009
-Build comprehensive public funding program for Hawaii county council election;

There was discussion regarding mentioning the $3 Hawaii State Income Tax check-off to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund when talking to media, to place information about the check-off on the website, and about looking into charging for staff time in regards to investigations.  Commissioner Gabrio also emphasized the importance of carefully scrutinizing the way the pilot Hawaii County Council candidates receiving comprehensive public funding spend public funds.

-Legislation, rules;
-Work with ICSD – to build an e-mail subscribe-unsubscribe system to send newsletters, reminders and other information, to add electronic signatures for filing of reports;
-Planning for 2009 National Campaign Finance Forum; and
-Review of reports, along with follow-up letters, investigations, conciliations.

Next Meeting:
Scheduled for Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.

Commissioner Gabrio moved to adjourn meeting.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Olbrich.  Motion carried unanimously.  Meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.