From Honolulu Advisor:
A pilot program to publicly finance Big Island County Council elections could be in danger after the state Senate amended the proposal yesterday to also soften restrictions on corporate campaign contributions.
Linking the conflicting ideas in the same bill could poison negotiations if the bill moves to a state House and Senate conference committee. State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, D-21st (Nanakuli, Makaha), and other Senate leaders said they are not trying to jeopardize the pilot program but want to give the House another chance to clarify the state’s campaign-finance law on corporate contributions.