Hawaii is VERY close to getting rid of dark and corporate money in its politics
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Exciting developments are unfolding in Hawaii as S.B. 2471, a groundbreaking bill aimed at eliminating corporate and dark money from politics, moves through the legislature. If signed by Governor Green, Hawaii could become the first state in the nation to render Citizens United irrelevant, paving the way for cleaner, more transparent elections at all levels. Sponsored by Senator Karl Rhoads, this transformative legislation has garnered overwhelming bipartisan support, passing both the Senate and House. However, critical steps remain, including the appointment of conferees by House leaders, which must occur soon to keep the bill alive. Citizens are encouraged to voice their support to state legislators, emphasizing the importance of a political landscape free from corporate influence.
In an inspiring turn of events, Hawaii is on the cusp of a monumental shift in political funding with the advancement of Senate Bill 2471. This bold legislation aims to render the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United irrelevant, allowing Hawaii to break free from the stranglehold of corporate and dark money in its elections. With overwhelming bipartisan support, the bill has successfully passed through both the Senate and House. As outlined in our earlier coverage, Hawaii's historic move to undo Citizens United is close to passing the legislature; there's still work to do to make it better, this effort represents a crucial step toward ensuring that the voices of everyday residents can be heard above the din of corporate interests.
The implications of S.B. 2471 extend far beyond the shores of Hawaii. If signed into law by Governor Green, Hawaii would set a precedent for the rest of the nation. It would not only serve as a beacon of hope for other states grappling with the pervasive influence of money in politics but also ignite a broader conversation about the integrity of democratic processes. As we highlighted in our piece about the bill's progress, Update on Hawai‘i's bold move to make Citizens United irrelevant: AG kill switch is out; final votes on SB 2471 are Friday. This is really close!, the urgency for public engagement cannot be overstated. The bill's fate hinges on the appointment of conferees by House leaders, which means that citizens must take action to ensure their voices are represented.
Why does this matter to the people of Hawaii and beyond? The answer lies in the essence of democracy itself. By curtailing corporate influence, Hawaii can foster a political landscape where elected officials are accountable to their constituents rather than to the highest bidder. This is particularly significant in a state renowned for its deep-rooted sense of community and cultural richness. The bill represents an opportunity to reclaim the political narrative, ensuring that the priorities of local residents—environmental sustainability, cultural preservation, and social equity—are placed front and center in decision-making processes.
As we look ahead, it is crucial for residents to engage with their legislators and express the collective desire for a political system free from corporate manipulation. Writing to key figures like House Speaker Nadine Nakamura and Vice Speaker Linda Ichiyama can amplify the message that Hawaii is ready for change. This moment is not just a political maneuver; it’s a chance for the people of Hawaii to affirm their commitment to a more genuine and transparent democracy.
In closing, the unfolding events surrounding S.B. 2471 prompt a thought-provoking question: Will Hawaii’s bold step ignite a national movement towards electoral reform, or will it be a singular moment in time? The eyes of the nation are watching closely, and the outcome could shape the future of political engagement across the United States. As we stand at this pivotal juncture, the call for action is clear: let’s not only hope for change but actively participate in making it a reality.
 | Incredibly hopeful news from Honolulu! Right now, S.B. 2471, a bold bill that would make Citizens United irrelevant, is working its way through Hawai'i's legislature. If the bill is signed by Gov. Green, Hawai'i will be the first state in the country to end the use of corporate and dark money in its local, state, and federal elections. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Karl Rhoads, has passed both the Senate and House with overwhelming and bipartisan support. It is currently headed for a conference committee awaiting appointment of conferees by the House's top three leaders. But there are a few more key steps, and they may need a hand from you: House leaders have until early next week to choose members to serve on S.B. 2471's conference committee; if they don't, the bill dies and will not reach Gov. Green's desk for his signature. Want to help make sure the bill survives this step? Write to your state legislators and let them know you want corporate and dark money out of your politics, or write directly to: [House Speaker Nadine Nakamura](mailto:repnakamura@capitol.hawaii.gov), [Vice Speaker Linda Ichiyama](mailto:repichiyama@capitol.hawaii.gov), and [Majority Leader Sean Quinlan](mailto:repquinlan@capitol.hawaii.gov). Time is of the essence! This is Hawai'i's opportunity to be the first state to strike a huge blow against Citizens United. Moments like this do not come often. America's eyes are on Hawai'i and its leaders. Hawaiians can be part of this historic moment by ensuring that your House leaders know you want corporate and dark money out of your politics. Learn more about the bold strategy to make Citizens United irrelevant here. [link] [comments] |
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- Update on Hawai‘i's bold move to make Citizens United irrelevant: AG kill switch is out; final votes on SB 2471 are Friday. This is really close!Big news! SB 2471, the bill that no longer grants political-spending power to corporations and other artificial entities in Hawaiʻi, received identical floor amendments in both chambers yesterday. The bill is now resting for the constitutionally required 48 hours and is scheduled for final votes in both houses tomorrow, Friday, May 8 — the last day of session. If it passes both chambers, it heads to Governor Josh Green's desk. What the bill does. SB 2471 takes a structural approach to corporate political spending that no other state has enacted. Rather than regulating speech (the path foreclosed by Citizens United in 2010), it operates upstream of that decision by defining the powers Hawaiʻi grants when it charters a corporation, LLC, or other artificial entity, and the powers Hawaiʻi requires foreign entities to respect when doing business here. Political spending is not among the powers granted. The reform treats artificial persons as creatures of state law whose powers the state defines — which is black-letter corporate law going back two centuries — and applies that principle to election and ballot-issue activity. if signed, the bill takes effect July 1, 2027. Why this would be historic. Hawaiʻi would be the first state in the country to enact this kind of reform. A parallel ballot-initiative effort is going gangbusters in Montana, but voters there can't speak on this until November. If SB 2471 clears both floors Friday and is signed, Hawaiʻi will set the template for every other state whose citizens want to reclaim their politics from dark and corporate money. This is the furthest any state has gotten. It has been a remarkable session of work by the chairs, the conferees, the staff, and Hawai‘i's fired-up people, who want to make this change happen. submitted by /u/TomMooreJD [link] [comments]
- Hawaii's historic move to undo Citizens United is close to passing the legislature; there's still work to do to make it better.Senate Bill 2471, which would make Citizens United irrelevant in Hawaii and get all dark and corporate money out of the state's politics, is achingly close to passage. It cleared its conference committee late last week and the final round of amendments will be voted on tomorrow (Wednesday, May 6). The House and Senate caucuses meet today (Tuesday) to discuss what the floor amendments will be. There is one floor amendment that has been agreed upon: They're going to push the effective date from Jan. 1, 2027, to July 1, 2027. (That seems fine.) The amendments are then introduced and voted on tomorrow. Both houses have to agree to the same amendments or the bill dies (this is possible, but not expected). The bill then sits for two days and there's a final vote on it in each chamber, as amended, on Friday. Then the bill is off to Gov. Green for his signature. There's action to be taken now, if you like: At the final moment, the conference committee added an unfortunate and badly crafted amendment to the bill that gives the attorney general unilateral power to erase the law from the books altogether if she believes a part of it is unenforceable. This should come out. The person who will decide whether it stays or goes is Rep. Scot Matayoshi. His email is [repmatayoshi@capitol.hawaii.gov](mailto:repmatayoshi@capitol.hawaii.gov); his office number is 808-586-8470. It's an easy ask: "Please kill the Attorney General kill switch in SB 2471." Let's be polite about it—Rep. Matayoshi had that provision added out of a sincere concern about how courts might treat out-of-state corporations differently from Hawaii corporations. But the language that was added doesn't do the job, and it weakens the stability (though not the effect) of the bill. Even if the kill switch stays in, SB 2471 is well worth supporting. The kill switch makes a great bill a little less steady, but it's still a great bill. submitted by /u/TomMooreJD [link] [comments]
- Hawaii legislature passes bill to undo Citizens UnitedExtremely good news out of Hawaii today. The legislature has passed SB 2471, which would no longer empower corporations to spend in the state's politics. It is now off to the governor's desk for his signature. Hawaii becomes the first state to embrace this approach, which is also headed toward Montana's November ballot as a voter initiative. Legislators in 13 other states introduced similar bills this year, but Hawaii's effort was the only one to make it all the way through the process. More details on the underlying legal approach here: https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-corporate-power-reset-that-makes-citizens-united-irrelevant/ submitted by /u/TomMooreJD [link] [comments]
- Hawaii Legislature passes first-in-nation bill targeting Citizens United rulingLEDE: HONOLULU (CN) — Invoking America’s Founding Fathers, the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the outsized influence of the sugar industry over island politics, Hawaii lawmakers on Friday passed a first-in-the-nation bill to strip corporations of the power to spend money in state elections. The bill takes aim at the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling, which allowed corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money in elections. Lawmakers, drawing from a legal theory developed by the Center for American Progress, argued that because states create corporations and grant them their powers, Hawaii could simply decline to grant corporations the power to spend in elections. submitted by /u/TomMooreJD [link] [comments]