If there are any questions on how to perform this procedure, please call the Commission office. The 1997 Legislature will be asked to make several changes to the campaign spending law. The amendments will be to close some loopholes, streamline reporting, adjust the public funding formula, and make minor changes to clarify the law. The most significant loophole allows contributors to make unlimited loans to candidates. Another loophole allows unlimited contributions to be made to sole electoral activity committees established within six months of an election.
Current law requires all candidates, even candidates without any contributions to file all reports.
The formula for public funding contains some inequities, especially for Council offices. In addition, many candidates seeking public funds have found the matching payment period for the general election to be too restrictive. These concerns should be addressed. Hawaii is the only state that has the capability to enable candidates to file reports by E-mail or directly onto the Internet. The candidates included seven House candidates, one Senate candidate and Mayoral candidate, Keiko Bonk, of the Big Island.