The Chair of House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs (JHA) Representative David Tarnas from the Big Island, along with the other committee members including my own Kauai District #16 Representative Luke Evslin – recently killed the Clean Elections bill SB2381.

Despite the measure passing unanimously out of the Senate and being one of the top “getting corruption out of campaigns and elections” priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii – this handful of Reps have decided nope – not a good idea.

Any one of them could have raised their hand in committee and requested the measure be amended to satisfy concerns, and/or the decision put off for a few days to allow for time to offer such amendments – and there’s still time to do so if they really want to make this happen.

Please reach out today, asap, and prior to Wednesday March 20th – make the calls, send the emails, share this message with your friends and networks.

David Tarnas (Chair) 808-586-8510 reptarnas@capitol.hawaii.gov
Gregg Takayama (VC) 808-586-6340 reptakayama@capitol.hawaii.gov
Luke Evslin 808-586-6270 repevslin@capitol.hawaii.gov
Sonny Ganaden 808-586-6010 repganaden@capitol.hawaii.gov
Daniel Holt 808-586-6180 repholt@capitol.hawaii.gov
Linda Ichidama 808-586-6220 repichiyama@capitol.hawaii.gov
Greggor Ilagan 808-586-6530 repilagan@capitol.hawaii.gov
Sam Satoru Kong 808-586-8455 repkong@capitol.hawaii.gov
Tyson Miyake 808-586-9444 repmiyake@capitol.hawaii.gov
Kanani Souza 808-586-8465 repsouza@capitol.hawaii.gov

Speaker of the House Representative Scott Saiki who is not on the Committee but to a great extent, controls its outcome – 808-586-6100 repsaiki@capitol.hawaii.gov

SB2381 Clean Elections, has overwhelming popular support of a wide cross-section of people on every island. It’s based on a proven model now in place in Maine and Connecticut that provides basic public funding to candidates for public office. In return those candidates agree to strict spending limits and are prohibited from accepting any private donations (above $5).

There’s still a chance to save SB2381 but action must be taken swiftly and it must be of a sufficient volume to gain the attention of those legislators responsible for killing it in committee.

O’ahu friends, please attend a rally/press-conference at the Capitol, tomorrow Monday at 2:30pm.

Everyone – Everywhere – Call and Email the above listed Representatives in the next 72 hours and ask them to reconsider their opposition to this forward-thinking, game-changing, hugely important election-reform measure. Put SB2381 back on the agenda and pass it!

When you speak to these legislator’s ask them why they’re opposed. SB2381 had unanimous support in the Senate, the Speaker of the House Scott Saiki has introduced an identical measure, and it’s a top priority of the Democratic Party of Hawaii. And it’s the right thing to do.

If and when they nitpick various provisions in the bill, remind them there’s still time for the measure to be amended and those who have concerns should recommend amendments to deal with those concerns. Remind them please, this is the way the process is supposed to work and their job is to create solutions, and make good ideas better – not just kill those good ideas (that btw are already proven models in other places).

When they tell you they’re worried about the money it will cost, remind them that SB2381 will not take effect until the 2028 elections so there will be no significant budget impact until then. Yes, the Campaign Spending Commission needs and deserve additional staffing support, but the amount needed for the two positions needed is minuscule when considered in the context of the state budget.

If they’re worried further about the budget impacts, ask them how come every single one of them who killed Clean Elections in the Judiciary Committee (except Rep. Ganaden) recently voted in favor of HB2652 and HB2653 cutting estate taxes for the very richest people in Hawaii, at a cost to the state budget of over $60 million annually?

Go figure.

Please – make the calls and send the email. Express your outrage and disbelief but of course do so professionally and politely.

After you contact your particular district Representative who helped kill Clean Elections, and Chair of the Committee Representative Tarnas – Take the time to reach out and let Speaker of the House Scott Saiki also know how you feel about what’s going on.

The headlines in January were all aglow crowing loudly about Speaker Saiki and his endorsement of Clean Elections. He was in fact the sponsor for the House Clean Elections bill HB2321 which is identical SB2381 (that the House Committee just killed)

If Speaker Saiki, Rep Tarnas, or members of the Judiciary Committee truly want this to pass, there’s plenty of time for good people to go into a room and work through the language and overcome the objections.

But they must want to do it. If leadership wants to make it happen, there’s time and there’re mechanisms and models to make it happen.

Unfortunately it’s all shibai. Saiki got his headlines waving the flag of support but it was all a show. Once again, the people get played.

I encourage all who care about making our democracy the best that it can be to make the calls and to send those emails. It’s time to be loud – polite and professional, but loud. Let’s make it clear that we will not tolerate business as usual. Mahalo to Our Hawai’i for helping to lead on this.

Civil Beat published this excellent read on the issue today, The Theatrics To Kill Full Public Election Financing Would Be Amusing If They Weren’t So Sad