The influence of money in our elections has been a longstanding issue in Hawaii, with government corruption a top concern for voters. It is now time for lawmakers to take decisive action to address it. Establishing a fully publicly financed election program is a critical step in this process, and Hawaii has a great opportunity to make this program a reality now.
Under a fully publicly financed election program, candidates who can gather the necessary number of $5 donations from their district’s constituents become eligible for state funds to finance their campaign. Candidates who choose to participate in this program are prohibited from accepting any additional private donations. This feature helps sever the link between donors and elected officials and reduces the likelihood of conflicts of interest and corruption.
Senate Bill 1543 seeks to introduce this program statewide in Hawaii. The bill received almost unanimous backing from the state Senate. It’s now up to the House to pass it and send it on to the governor’s desk.
In addition to addressing corruption, fully publicly financed elections can promote diversity and representation in the political system. By ensuring equal opportunities for candidates to run a successful campaign, candidates can compete and win without access to wealthy donors. This can lead to a more diverse group of elected officials and better representation of the people.
The Hawaii County Council implemented this program in the 2010 and 2012 races, leading to a significant number of first-time candidates participating and winning. As a result, these newly elected council members were not influenced by wealthy donors but were accountable to their constituents, who had played a crucial role in their victory.
Former County Council member and current state Rep. Greggor Ilagan of Puna used this program in 2012 and won. Despite considerable success of the program, insufficient funding from the state led to the program’s discontinuation. Today, we have the opportunity to fully fund and expand it statewide.
Although the program lacks funding, the cost to implement it across all state races is relatively low, estimated at less than $10 million annually, a tiny fraction of the state budget. When it comes to protecting our democracy, investing $10 million is a small price to pay.
Public financing can ultimately generate cost savings by reducing the requirement for politicians to constantly solicit donations from private interests, allowing them to instead focus their time and behavior on the needs of their constituents. Connecticut has had fully publicly financed elections for over a decade and has saved money as a result. They have closed corporate loopholes that are worth far more than the program’s expense since its implementation.
Big Island Rep. David Tarnas acknowledges the importance of ending corrupt practices, as evidenced by his successful passage of several governmental reform bills out of his Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs committee this year. However, these bills are not enough. Without the passage of SB 1543, wealthy donors will continue to wield significant political power that can be at odds with the will of Hawaii’s people.
It is crucial that Rep. Tarnas passes SB 1543 out of his committee before the March 23 deadline, for the program to have any chance of being enacted.
It is time for Hawaii to join the other states that have successfully implemented fully publicly financed election programs and to work towards a more just and democratic society. We cannot afford to wait any longer. Let’s support Rep. Tarnas and urge him to take action to establish a fully publicly financed election program in Hawaii.
Together, we can make Hawaii a model for democracy and assure our citizens that our political system serves all people, not just wealthy individuals and businesses.
Donna Oba is president of the League of Women Voters of Hawaii. Beppie Shapiro is president of the League of Women Voters of Honolulu.