Hawaii HB1713 dead...publicly funded campaigns

[mahina]

The Hawai`i Clean Elections (HCE) bill was killed for the 7th year during a twice-postponed-fourth meeting of a conference committee at approximately 10 PM Friday night. A brief history of the legislation can be found under the "Education Center" tab on the above navigation bar. The law would have reduced the influence of special-interest lobbyists on the Legislature.
The HCE team applauded the minority of Democrats and Republicans championing the legislation this session. "But," said Laure Dillon, Director of HCE, "we are understandably disappointed that the majority of Democratic Legislators again killed off this genuine reform effort. You'd think that with all the scandals swirling around illegal and badly-timed campaign fund raising they would have jumped at the chance to clean up the conflicts-of-interest-ridden system."
Dillon added, "The public is not dumb. A recent AARP Survey found 86% of Hawai`i adult residents believe campaign contributions influence the decisions that legislators make.
75% support the Clean Elections reform, and 1/3 of all residents are less likely to vote for a candidate who opposes the proposed campaign finance reform plan."
http://www.cleanelectionshawaii.org /
A very sad day for yours truly. Though there is a lesson to be learned here...many lessons, which after a couple days of rest I will approach again.
One interesting thing that happend late last night was a complete hijacking of the Senate by the Republicans, a (tiny) minority who managed to stall the whole Senate for hours. They finally stomped off with the Democrats laughing at them, who then conducted a vote of 90-0 on the issue at hand (having to do with a regent of the UH who was a student who liked increasing tuition by 50- 100% while the students didn't want him representing them for that very reason.) Strange days. All they can do is be an obstacle but by golly they sure know how to leverage that into being a giagantic blistering obstacle.
All the reasons given for finally killing the bill...no money, don't want to be the guinea pigs, want it in the House, want it in the Senate, are all evasions. The truth is they just do not want publicly financed campaigns, they want to do things the way it is now. This bill is where I put my heart after breaking in Nov 04. A very shitty day in paradise. To all of you who called or came to the Legislature I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[BamaLefty]

1. Damned Liberals

Wanting to count all the votes fairly. TO HELL WITH THEM I SAY, HELL!!! :eyes:

[mahina]

2. whoops, the R's lost 19-0, I heard wrong and was crosseyed tired.

Didn't think there were that many ...

but the Safe Vote bill PASSED!!!!!