I wonder if local officials, elected and appointed, are paying attention to New York Governor David Paterson’s latest woes. An independent counsel appointed to investigate Paterson’s receipt of free World Series tickets concluded the governor lied when he testified that he had always intended to pay for them. She has now referred the question of [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Ethics'
New York case highlights issue of free tickets for officials
August 28th, 2010 · 1 Comment · Ethics
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Why lobbyist’s gifts to legislators are so rarely reported and so difficult to track
July 30th, 2010 · 4 Comments · Ethics, Politics, lobbyists
Another review of expenditure reports filed by lobbyists and the businesses and organizations that employ them confirmed what I initially noted two weeks ago–money spent on the gifts given to public officials by lobbyists are rarely publicly disclosed, despite the requirements of state law. This time I looked at reports filed by individual lobbyists, as [...]
Few UH officials disclose protocol spending
July 24th, 2010 · 1 Comment · Ethics
Back on July 12, I noted that UH Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw had not yet filed the annual gift disclosure required by the state ethics law. The disclosure statement was due on June 30. Hinshaw’s statement was eventually received, signed at dated July 14, two weeks after the filing deadline. It was submitted via email [...]
About those free tickets….
July 19th, 2010 · 9 Comments · Ethics
Remember those free season tickets to UH athletic events that top level university administrators and members of the Board of Regents disclosed to the State Ethics Commission? The issue of free tickets came up in a 1996 Advisory Opinion issued by the commission, and guess what? Those perks may violate provisions of the state’s ethics [...]
Tags: athletics·free season tickets·Hawaii State Ethics Commission·University of Hawaii
Gift disclosures document unreported lobbyist expenditures
July 14th, 2010 · 12 Comments · Ethics, lobbyists
I’ve long suspected that lobbyists don’t fully comply with the disclosure requirements of the state’s ethics law, but it’s hard to find concrete examples. But after looking at the gift disclosures filed by state officials, I realized they offer a small opportunity to double check on lobbyists. The gifts that public officials report receiving from [...]
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Top UH administrators took freebie tickets while recommending students pay new athletic fee
July 12th, 2010 · 31 Comments · Ethics
At the same time the University of Hawaii’s Board of Regents is deciding whether to hit students on the Manoa campus with a new $50 per semester athletic fee, gift disclosures filed with the State Ethics Commission show top university administrators have been getting free season tickets to sports of their choosing. Here are some [...]
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City draws on same law firm for new Ethics Commission member
July 9th, 2010 · 4 Comments · Ethics
Honolulu Ethics Commission chairman Lex Smith resigned earlier this year because his increased involvement in Managing Director Kirk Caldwell’s mayoral campaign would have violated legal restrictions on political activity by commission members. New members have now been appointed to the commission to fill Smith’s seat and other vacancies. Among the new members is Charles Gall, [...]
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Vili the Warrior’s appearance with Aiona sparks complaint
July 8th, 2010 · 41 Comments · Ethics
An unhappy reader spotted photos of UH football mascot Vili the Warrior carousing with Duke Aiona, GOP candidate for governor, during the 4th of July parade in Kailua. This was a Twitpic photo posted by Aiona’s campaign. There’s also a YouTube video of the same scene. How in the WORLD was Vili the Warrior allowed [...]
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