Campaign Spending Commission

Campaign Spending Commission Meeting
Leiopapa A Kamehameha Building, Room 204
November 12, 2009
10:00 a.m.

Commissioners Present:
Chair Paul Kuramoto, Vice-Chair Steven Olbrich, Gino Gabrio, Dean Robb, Michael Weaver

Staff Present:
Barbara Wong, Tony Baldomero, Grant Tanimoto, Linda Takushi, Ellen Kojima
Deputy Attorney General Robyn Chun

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

Consideration of Minutes:
Commissioner Robb moved to approve the minutes of the October 14, 2009 meeting.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Olbrich.  Motion carried (Kuramoto, Olbrich, Gabrio and Robb).

New Business:
Proposed 2010 Legislation by Commissioners and Staff
Staff proposed introducing three bills during the 2010 legislative session.  General Counsel Tanimoto noted that the major reasons the governor vetoed the recodification bill last session was because the number of commissioner nominees changed from ten to two, non-resident contributions increased from 20% to 30%, and competitive government contractors were removed from the contribution prohibition.

The first proposed bill for 2010 is CSC-01, the recodification.  We used HB 128 as the starting point and made some changes, including making the number of commissioner nominees 10 instead of 2, reinstating competitive bidders under the contribution prohibition, and removing donations by candidates to schools (which is already allowed in the law under HRS sections 11-200 and 11-206).

The second proposed bill is CSC-02.  It includes changes that would further clarify the law regarding: advertising disclaimers to occur at the beginning of robo-calls, disclaimers to be included on signs, banners, and each page of a website that has advertisements; registration and reporting required by corporations and other entities; and the Commission’s discretion to negotiate fines and penalties.

The third proposed bill, CSC-03, prohibits the use of campaign funds raised for one office to be used for another office without written permission of the contributor, and further clarifies that funds raised by a federal candidate cannot be used for state or county office.

Discussion on whether all three bills should be introduced.  Members discussed whether too many issues may take legislative focus off of the recodification.  Staff noted that the priority would be the recodification, and then CSC-02.  It was suggested that CSC-03 be held and reconsidered for the 2011 legislative session.   A consensus of the members is that the recodification and CSC-02, which involves clarifications, are the bills that should be introduced during the 2010 legislative session.

Next Meeting:
Scheduled for Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.

Commissioner Weaver moved to convene executive session.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Robb.  Motion carried unanimously.

Public session reconvened.

Commissioner Robb moved to adjourn meeting.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Weaver.  Motion carried unanimously.  Meeting adjourned at 10:55 a.m.