03-09-2009, 09:50 AM
Remember HB539 HD1 that would have allowed unlimited corporate contributions to candidates' election campaigns? Citizens spoke out, and we won! The House recommitted the bill, effectively killing it.
But the issue is BACK. On Wednesday night, the House Finance Committee inserted language into HB 215 that allows corporate contributions to PACs (political action committees) up to $50,000 per election cycle.
The House will be having its third reading (final) on this bill TOMORROW, Tuesday, March 10. If it passes, it will cross over to the Senate for action.
Please see details below and take action today. We won this debate several times already, and we can do it again!
A Quick Recap
Legislators are fast tracking legislation this session that would remove a ceiling on the amount of money flowing directly from corporate treasuries and into candidates' campaigns for public office. The new HB 215 HD2 allows corporations to give $50,000 per cycle to their PACs, allowing more opportunity for political influence.
This would make Hawaii the first state in U.S. History to move backward, not forward, on the issue of corporate money flowing into candidates' coffers. While corporations influence politics in many different ways, already 21 states and the federal government have placed a ban on corporate money flowing out of their treasuries and into campaigns.
Remember that anyone, corporation executives, stockholders, corporation employees can give up to the limit in campaign contributions from their own pockets, just like you and us. Money from the corporate treasury is an additional amount that can be given. But this money comes from the earnings of the corporations, and the cost is passed on to the customers of their goods and services. Eventually, consumers like you and us pay for corporate contributions.
We Can Stop This Bill! But we need your help. As you may know, for the past three years a broad coalition of groups have stopped similar bills from passing through the state legislature, and we can do it again. Help us stop the Tsunami of Corporate Money (INCLUDING UNION $$$$).
How You Can Help:
1. First, send an email to all House members at <reps@capitol.hawaii.gov> and all Senate members at <sens@capitol.hawaii.gov> opposing HB 215 HD2. It can be very brief --- one or two sentences expressing your disagreement. Tell them to ban corporate money from Hawaii's election campaigns!
2. Next, please send an email to your own list, encouraging friends to email House member
giving them the above email address, or ask them to call their own representatives.
Mahalo for any help you can give to this cause.
But the issue is BACK. On Wednesday night, the House Finance Committee inserted language into HB 215 that allows corporate contributions to PACs (political action committees) up to $50,000 per election cycle.
The House will be having its third reading (final) on this bill TOMORROW, Tuesday, March 10. If it passes, it will cross over to the Senate for action.
Please see details below and take action today. We won this debate several times already, and we can do it again!
A Quick Recap
Legislators are fast tracking legislation this session that would remove a ceiling on the amount of money flowing directly from corporate treasuries and into candidates' campaigns for public office. The new HB 215 HD2 allows corporations to give $50,000 per cycle to their PACs, allowing more opportunity for political influence.
This would make Hawaii the first state in U.S. History to move backward, not forward, on the issue of corporate money flowing into candidates' coffers. While corporations influence politics in many different ways, already 21 states and the federal government have placed a ban on corporate money flowing out of their treasuries and into campaigns.
Remember that anyone, corporation executives, stockholders, corporation employees can give up to the limit in campaign contributions from their own pockets, just like you and us. Money from the corporate treasury is an additional amount that can be given. But this money comes from the earnings of the corporations, and the cost is passed on to the customers of their goods and services. Eventually, consumers like you and us pay for corporate contributions.
We Can Stop This Bill! But we need your help. As you may know, for the past three years a broad coalition of groups have stopped similar bills from passing through the state legislature, and we can do it again. Help us stop the Tsunami of Corporate Money (INCLUDING UNION $$$$).
How You Can Help:
1. First, send an email to all House members at <reps@capitol.hawaii.gov> and all Senate members at <sens@capitol.hawaii.gov> opposing HB 215 HD2. It can be very brief --- one or two sentences expressing your disagreement. Tell them to ban corporate money from Hawaii's election campaigns!
2. Next, please send an email to your own list, encouraging friends to email House member
giving them the above email address, or ask them to call their own representatives.
Mahalo for any help you can give to this cause.