The state House Judiciary Committee moved out bills last night that would repeal limits on Mainland and corporate political contributions that have been cited as fundraising barriers by potential candidates for governor in 2010.

One bill would repeal a restriction that candidates can receive no more than 20 percent of contributions from Mainland donors during each campaign-finance reporting period. The bill would also narrow the ban on contributions from state contractors to only include those who have received non-bid contracts.

A second bill would allow unlimited contributions from corporate treasuries to corporate political action committees, lifting a $1,000 cap that has been challenged in court and is the subject of an appeal by the state Campaign Spending Commission.

Aides to U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, who are considering campaigns for governor in 2010, have described the limits on Mainland and corporate donations as obstacles to fundraising.

State Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu, D-41st (Waipahu, Village Park, Waikele), the committee's chairman, said the restrictions may be unconstitutional. He said the goal of the Campaign Spending Commission is to ensure transparency in campaign-finance reporting and to make the limits equal to all donors.

"We're just making sure that all the transparency is there and making sure limitations are the same across the board," he said.

The bills, if they progress, will likely prompt significant debate because of the potential effect on the governor's race.

State Rep. Cynthia Thielen, R-50th (Kailua, Kane'ohe Bay), said lifting the limit on corporate contributions "plays right into the Democrats' hands, especially in the race for governor. And then removing the 20 percent limitation on out-of-state contributions is, I think, a hand-off to Abercrombie's campaign."

Republicans believe the restrictions had been imposed by majority Democrats to hamper Republican Gov. Linda Lingle's ability to raise money for her campaigns.

State Rep. Della Au Belatti, D-25th (Tantalus, Makiki, McCully), called the move on corporate contributions "a huge step backwards."