The change will result in the politicians becoming accountable for the campaign money they accept. If the change occurs, the public can thank former state House Speaker Daniel Kihano for the heightened sense of fiscal responsibility - not because of Kihano's legislative achievements, but because of his indictment by a federal grand jury last month, on charges that he used his campaign funds to pay personal expenses. Kihano was also charged with filing false tax returns and obstruction of justice. U.S. Attorney Steven S. Alm said Kihano was taking money out of his campaign and putting it in his pocket. The Kihano case fires up a spotlight on an amazing hole in election laws.
Candidates are free to use campaign money for a multitude of purposes.
They can use it to do all of the normal political things, such as polling, advertising, advice and travel. But when they start to see themselves as becoming larger than life, when they assume that their very existence is continuing some political campaign, then the trouble starts. The state Campaign Spending Commission has started to crack down on the problem by coming up with a list of forbidden expenses. For instance, politicians aren't suppose to take the money they wring out of supporters and buy, rent or lease cars for their personal use. They aren't supposed to take vacations on campaign money.