Posted on: Sunday, April 6, 2003

Campaign reform bill receives preliminary approval from House

By B.J. Reyes
Associated Press

The state House has given preliminary approval to a campaign reform proposal after defeating an amendment proposed by Republicans who criticized the measure as not going far enough to ban large contributions from government contractors.

House Democrats disputed the claim, saying the bill, which got preliminary approval Friday, will bring about more equity in campaign contributions.

"Corporations have the same rights as everybody else," said Judiciary Vice Chairman Rep. Blake Oshiro, D-33rd (Halawa, 'Aiea, Pearlridge). "When we try to limit free speech ... we need to be very careful."

The proposed amendment was offered by House Minority Leader Galen Fox, R-23rd (Waikiki, Ala Moana, Kaka'ako), who said the state should be guided by federal law, which bars government contractors from donating to politicians.

Fox also criticized language in the bill that redefines what constitutes a campaign contribution.

Items that would be considered legal contributions under the bill include volunteer services, use of a volunteer's personal property for campaign purposes including the cost of invitations, food or beverages less than $1,000, and independent expenditures and electioneering communications.

"A contribution is a contribution," Fox said. "The things this bill is trying to define out are in fact contributions."

The amendment was defeated 36-13 on a party-line vote with two members absent.

The bill, which has been approved in the Senate, faces one final vote in the House before the two chambers head to conference committee to work out differences in the proposal.

Among the differences, House lawmakers stripped the Senate bill of a provision that would have made it illegal for poll watchers to communicate any information learned during the course of their duties.

Republicans had criticized the provision as an attempt to punish activity that was widely credited with helping them get out the vote and elect Gov. Linda Lingle as the state's first GOP governor in 40 years.

Lingle has said she would not support any campaign reform measure that included the provision on poll watchers.