House Committee on Finance (FIN) - chair: Sylvia Luke, vice chair: Scott Y. Nishimoto

Wednesday, April 8, 2015, 9:15 a.m., Room 308

Testifier: Beppie J. Shapiro, Legislative Committee Member, LWV of Hawaii

Click here to view SB508 SD1

Chair Luke, Vice-Chair Nishimoto, and Committee Members: The League of Women Voters of Hawaii supports SB508 SD1 HD1 which would improve the usefulness of Campaign Spending Reports by requiring earlier submission of preliminary reports prior to a general election. Currently these reports are due ten days prior to the election. This gives the Campaign Spending Commission (CSC) too little time to analyze the many reports and if desired to publicize their data or implications so the public can be aware of funding and spending particulars which might influence voters’ decisions at the polls. A major value of these reports is this kind of information, and the requirement of earlier report submission will address an important defect in the reporting system. Voters and analysts will now be able to examine this spending before Election Day. We support making the measure effective upon passage, and urge you to pass this bill. Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony.