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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 10:51 p.m., Monday, March 9, 2009

Hawaii watchdog groups seek stop to corporate influence

By MARK NIESSE
Associated Press

Citizen watchdog groups are trying to turn back another effort to increase businesses' influence on Hawaii elections.

The state House of Representatives is set to vote Tuesday on a measure that would set a $50,000 limit on corporate donations to political action committees.

Currently, such corporate contributions are unlimited because a previous $1,000 cap isn't being enforced while a court case is pending.

Another bill up for a vote would delay public funding of elections on the Big Island until 2014.

Saying they need to "stop the tsunami" of corporate money's influence on politics, good-government groups held a news conference today at the Capitol in which they carried umbrellas and wore ponchos to shield themselves from fake $10,000 bills flying through the air.