Support the Clean Elections bill!

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February 9 update:

Big news: the Clean Elections bill, SB2381, got scheduled for its next hearing in the Senate on Tuesday February 13th at 10:05 AM! That’s surely in no small part thanks to the hundreds of messages that people like you sent to Ways and Means Committee Chair Donovan Dela Cruz and Vice Chair Sharon Moriwaki. Mahalo to all of you, and to them for hearing our demand.

Now, it’s time to pass it out of this committee, and we really need all hands on deck. Ways and Means is the “budget and finances” committee of the Senate — the $$$ committee. It’s big: 13 members. And powerful: it’s often where good ideas come to die. So it’s our job to make sure the Senators know that it’s time for them to put local people over big money. We need your help to let them know that we are ready for Clean Elections.

Here’s how:

  1. We need you to submit written testimony in support of SB2381 before Monday at 10am. This is critical. No in-person oral testimony is allowed in these Ways and Means hearings, so we need to FLOOD them with overwhelming written support, which has to be submitted 24 hours before the hearing. See instructions and sample testimony below.

  2. After you’re done with that, forward this message to two of your friends and ask them to do the same.

  3. If on O‘ahu and can, mark your calendar for this Tuesday 2/13 at 10am and join us in-person at the Capitol in Conference Room 211. Since oral testimony isn’t allowed, it’s even more important we have a big, visible presence. If we fill the room with ordinary local people, we’ll make sure our Senators know that we are watching and ready for them to do what is right by us, not their big money donors.

Here are the instructions and sample testimony:

  1. Click this link

  2. Log in if you have an account already. If you don’t, click the link to register for an account.

  3. Click the “Submit Testimony” Button in the top left corner.

  4. Enter “SB2381” in the Search bar on the left.

  5. Follow the on-screen instructions and select the “Support” option 

  6. Hit the “Submit” Button before Monday at 10am, and if can, join us in person on Tuesday at State Capitol Conference Room 211.

Sample testimony:

Aloha Committee Members,

Money has dominated Hawaii's political system for too long, leading to bad policies being passed and good ones being killed. SB2381 can break the link between private money and winning elections by freeing candidates from the need to fundraise from wealthy donors and special interests. This can lead to a more ethical and representative government that prioritizes the needs of constituents. Connecticut, Maine, and Hawaii County Council have proven that full publicly financed elections can be successful and cost-effective. These examples haven’t resulted in incumbents losing at higher rates or the majority parties losing seat, but it has resulted in shifts in how the sitting legislators are influenced. We can easily afford this program's low cost of less than $10 million per year. If we are serious about ending corruption and creating a system that works for all residents and not just the wealthy few, we need to pass SB2381 now. 

Mahalo.

The time has come! The “Clean Elections” bill for full public financing of elections has been scheduled for its first hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, February 6th at 10am and we need YOU to submit testimony in SUPPORT of SB2381 to show the overwhelming public support for creating a fairer, less corrupt election system. This is a critical opportunity to make sure our legislators, the media, and the public know where the people stand.

Please submit written testimony now in advance! If you can, join to testify via Zoom at 10am on the 6th or if you're on O'ahu, in person at the Capitol in room 016.

How to submit testimony:

  1. Click this link

  2. Log in if you have an account already. If you don’t, click the link to register for an account.

  3. Click the “Submit Testimony” Button in the top left corner.

  4. Enter “SB2381” in the Search bar on the left.

  5. Follow the on-screen instructions and select the “Support” option 

  6. Hit the “Submit” Button before Monday at 10am, and if can, join us in person at State Capitol Conference Room 016.

Sample Testimony for SB2381:

Aloha Committee Members,

Money has dominated Hawaii's political system for too long, leading to bad policies being passed and good ones being killed. SB2381 can break the link between private money and winning elections by freeing candidates from the need to fundraise from wealthy donors and special interests. This can lead to a more ethical and representative government that prioritizes the needs of constituents. Connecticut, Maine, and Hawaii County Council have proven that full publicly financed elections can be successful and cost-effective. These examples haven’t resulted in incumbents losing at higher rates or the majority parties losing seat, but it has resulted in shifts in how the sitting legislators are influenced. We can easily afford this program's low cost of less than $10 million per year. If we are serious about ending corruption and creating a system that works for all residents and not just the wealthy few, we need to pass SB2381 now.

Submit Testimony today in support of this critical legislation, and join us on Tuesday 2/6 via Zoom or in-person in Capitol Conference Room 016.

P.S. Here are some additional talking points you can use for your testimony, and here’s a link to a social media post to spread the word!