Hawaii passes bill restricting campaign donation transparency

A recent political accountability bill in Hawaii aims to ban government contractors and their close family members from donating to political campaigns. This measure passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and now moves to the Senate Ways and Means Committee. However, a last-minute amendment limits public access to key information, causing concern among advocates. The House version of the bill required public disclosure of contractors and their connections. However, the Senate's version places this information behind a password-protected section of the Campaign Spending Commission’s website. Critics argue this change reduces transparency, which is necessary to prevent corruption. State officials are discussing improving the reporting process. Kristin Izumi-Nitao, executive director of the Campaign Spending Commission, emphasized the bill's importance in addressing "pay-to-play" politics. She referenced public frustration over recent bribery cases and urged swift action. Another topic in the legislature is a proposed visitor-impact fee. This fee aims to fund climate change-related costs in Hawaii. Two House committees recently approved bills to implement such fees, although similar proposals have failed in past sessions. Senate Bill 1396 focuses on taxing cruise ship cabins while Senate Bill 439 suggests user fees for nonresidents visiting state parks. Both bills await further discussion in the House. In other news, the Big Island Press Club has criticized the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) for its support of laws allowing governor and county mayor control over electronic media during emergencies. The Press Club argues this restricts press freedom and prevents timely public information. Finally, the Honolulu rail line, Skyline, is struggling with low ridership since its 2023 opening. An audit attributes this to poor marketing and service limitations. Meanwhile, there are calls to expand the rail system to underserved areas that face significant transportation challenges.