Your Testimony

First Name
Last Name
Email Address
Title
Organization
Address
City
State
Postal Code
Phone
File
TestimonyI'm writing in strong support for HB 2700 HD1 and to ask that you give this bill a hearing. This bill provides important maintenance and upkeep for Act 244 on the Big Island and will not have a fiscal impact on the General Fund.In the 2010 election cycle, eight candidates utilized the Big Island pilot program, and four of those candidates won. We spent $147,000 plus administrative costs for a batting average of 50% on the Big Island. Now, four out of nine County Councilors are publicly funded and accepted no money from large special interests (outside of the $5 qualifying contributions candidates collected from 200 registered voters who all lived in the district for which the candidates were running). Between 2002 and 2010, 137 candidates utilized the partial public funding program, and 30 of those candidates won. To elect 30 candidates, taxpayers spent approximately $3,756,000. Spending that much money for a batting average of under 22% is a waste of resources. The bottom line is that when it comes to the partial public funding program, taxpayers are losing out. We need to upgrade and modernize the program to catch up with the times.Money in politics is the defining issue of our democracy and will continue to be so. All over the country, citizens and lawmakers are waking up to this reality. Between 2003-2005, oil companies spent over $600,000 in lobbying and expenditures in Hawaii (this does not even count the lobbying money that is not required to be disclosed). It’s not a wonder why we burn oil to get nearly 90% of our energy. House bill 2700 provides upkeep and maintenance for Act 244, the Big Island Fair Elections pilot program.Please pass this legislation. Mahalo

Support Video

Description of Bill

Hearing

Sample Talking Points

URL

Your Testimony