From: WEWoodsMPH@aol.com Date: Tue, 7 Jul 1998 22:23:18 EDT Subject: Hawaii Investigation and Actions Continue - Also look at "Do Good" Aloha Folks, First, the letter at end of the first section is the last response/rebuttal I made to the Hawaii State Campaign Spending Commission regarding the complaints of apparent violations made by Hawaii's Future Today. This was created in part because the attorney for them requested the commission dismiss the charges against them because they had asked for a refund of $1,000 that was given to the political organization called Save Traditional Marriage 98. Read, route or discard as you will - FYI - the investigation and call for criminal investigations with the State Attorney General, FBI, and other federal prosecuting agencies continues. The remainder of this letter is to give some perspective to "do good". Do good, Gosh, I have used that ending phrase for about two years now. I put it on my writings as a result of a lengthy discussion with several friends as to what I was really pursuing in my process of promoting freedom, equality and justice. In the end, this phrase came to light as the basic core of what I WANT to accomplish. From time to time people approach me and ask why I mean by "doing good". I think that actions speak more powerfully than the words or concepts alone. For this reason I have looked around my world and put together things I do that I think is "doing good", that some may never see. Some of the things I think are doing good that I am very committed to: 1. Do not knowingly contribute any of my value, money, and talents to a group or organization that discriminates or has unfair or unequal policies. Basic areas of this review are about discriminatory practices that relate to ethnic, race, sex, sexual orientation, age, handicap status, past criminal record, and other non-merit issues. 2. Speak out against such groups if they promulgate their efforts and their discriminatory practices. 3. I do not patronize Consolidated Theaters unless there is no alternative showing of a special feature. (I did go to a benefit held at Waikiki 3 when I knew the money was actually going to a charity that I support) (I reluctantly went to Gone with the Wind last week because it was only theatre chain showing it on Oahu) The reason is that a little more than two years ago they posted (announced with GLEE) that they had just had the highest profits in history. The next day they eliminated all full-time theatre staff, eliminated all fringe benefits and health care insurances, and cut hourly wages to as much as 50% of previous amounts. This is the worst kind of capitalism - and they will not continue with my money supporting their profits and their bad business activities (lack of fair support of their long-time employees). 4. I avoid Pali Safeway as they have continually put their tobacco displays at front entrances, next to child movies and candy, on floor displays at #1 checkout counters (the displays being from the ground up are like billboards for children - tobacco's next generation of cancer and profit makers. I go there whenever I cannot find similar products at a fair price elsewhere. They said they would change this practice when they opened the expanded store, but they did not. 5. I ask all candidates for office the very same questions about the following issues: A. Civil rights for all - does this include Gay men and women? B. Safer school environment for all who come to learn - smaller class size, too C. Economic questions - including equal access to entire economic system, identification of artificial barriers, and the need for fair reasonable regulatory laws for fair and just business activity. D. Health and social service support - to assure coverage of necessary health care and social service as a minimum for all. E. Ethics, ending of conflicts of interest, campaign spending reforms (that would also be effective in stopping the current corruption and political abuses easily seen my our citizenry. F. Demonstration of support for activities which promote whistle blowing and uncovering of corruption by non-profit organizations and government entities. These all come under the term: "in community Interest." G. Others that show up that I believe are important to all in a civilized community. I speak out publicly on all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, as to the responses and whether I support or endorse the candidate. I also speak out in opposition to them if their positions are counter to these concerns. I take all actions and statements of politicians seriously!!!!! And I remember past one, two or even three election cycles!!! 6. I do not go to the Polynesian Cultural Center any more. Now that I am aware of their use of the non-profit status of the Center and the Bringham Young University - Hawaii to provide funding to promote political campaigns against the constitutional rights of Gay people I no longer suggest or recommend these institutions for others. I do however do my best to educate anyone who will listen about the promotion of political objectives using their monies, church missionaries, and businesses in a way I believe is unfair and illegal - not to mention immoral and unjust. I have many more activities I undertake to do my bit in "doing good." I have begun keeping a list so maybe another item may appear in the future - or the book. do good William E. Woods, MPH Campaign Spending Commission July 7, 1998 State of Hawaii 235 South Beretania Street, Room 300 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 RE: Combined and Amended Dockets and Investigation RE: Hawaii's Future Today Dear Chairperson Black, Commissioners, and Executive Director Watada: This letter is prepared as an addition to my previous communications regarding alleged violations of Hawaii's Future Today (HFT) currently placed into a combined docket for investigation by the Campaign Spending Commission. This response was created, also, in part as a rebuttal to the request by Hawaii's Future Today's attorney Richard R. Clifton (6-9-98) requesting you to dismiss the complaints (original and amended) against them that pertain to their being declared a political organization and requiring them to file all required reports. Dismissal of these and related complaints involving HFT is not warranted. In fact, since the combination of complaints and opening of the investigation into the various and related issues was begun, additional information and facts demonstrating more of HFT's political activities, as long-standing and ongoing, demonstrate further amendment to the original complaints to require additional CSC report filings. 1. Specifically, Hawaii's Future Today raised money and placed political ads in Hawaii's two daily papers on May 9, 1996. These ads not only cost more than $1,000 for political advertising space, but also required professional staff time, administrative costs, consulting costs and other organizational resources to develop and produce. Communications from your office initiating the complaint of their political organization practices dated: May 21, 1996; June 20, 1996; and July 11, 1996 describe and outline the complaint, establish a fine for the violation identified, and stated that they shall be required to register and file CSC reports as a noncandidate committee. However, the July 11, 1996 letter stated that because you believed that HFT "did not intend, nor plan to engage in any activity as" such a political organization you would not require their registration as a political organization. During this same time frame, Mr. Jack Hoag, co-Chair of HFT, made several public statements stating that HFT would be endorsing and backing political candidates. Thus, this political paid ad was backed by the HFT's Co-Chair's words. And that the effort and future efforts of HFT were to be viewed and known as political. These words backed up the understanding that the ad was a political endorsement for the politicians supported in the ad. And that those who were negatively portrayed in the ad were to be opposed politically. Further, the publicly placed ads were not reviewed by the commission as being made from funds which were solicited in violation of the $1,000 contributor cap Specifically, HFT solicited and received contributions exceeding $1,000 prior to placing the political ads. One contributor contributed $29,000 out of $31,000 reported in one reporting period to the Hawaii State Ethics Commission prior to the placement of these ads. The allowance of Mr. Watada in the July 11, 1996 not to require HFT to do the requisite political organization reporting does not appear to have been reviewed fully by the Commission. Further, the previous review and action did not take into consideration the additional and substantial violations related to political fundraising, activities, and statements that actually went to impact and abuse the political action forum they were involved. In fact, the ad opposing and supporting candidates for elective office actually was a multi-thousand dollar political action activity that may have affected numerous candidates' success or loss in the upcoming 1996 elections. Specifically, Rep. Terrance Tom, who was supported by the ad won his re- election bid by only 54 votes. Further, Senate Judiciary Chair who opposed this group's political position and was opposed by the ad lost his re-election bid. Again, in reviewing the limited HFT organizational information that is currently available, HFT's only paid consultant was Ms. Linda Rosehill, who is also a former CSC Commissioner. News articles announcing the beginning of this organization identified her as the organizer and spokesperson for the development and organizational administration of HFT. The expertise and CSC issues understanding by Ms. Rosehill again demonstrates a pattern of abuse and violation of Hawaii's laws regarding political activities by this organization and its principals and agents. Thus, these additional complaints of alleged violations need to be added to the current list of complaints and taken into the whole for investigating, reviewing and understanding the extent and complexity of the violations perpetrated against our political system. 2. Attempt to dismiss complaint based upon HFT acting and doing work of political organization, creating and conducting political fundraiser, etc. Stating in their 6-9-98 letter that requesting the $1,000 refund from Save Traditional Marriage 98 would eliminate the problem or cause for action of violation. "Once a criminal has broken the law by stealing, the investigation and findings of guilt and legal sanctions cannot be stopped by returning the loot." WEWoods - 7-7-98 Clearly the $1,000 was only portion of what would be considered the political contribution. Since combining of the complaints and subsequent review, other contributions are seen, such as the contributions of their principals and agents to the Save Traditional Marriage 98 coffers. Further, the additional monies and assets of HFT that have gone to the political action funds and organizational support by HFT have not yet been tallied. Actions, letters, call, etc that were done by HFT staff, volunteers, and other resources have taken place (based upon additional documents that have been filed as a result of various responses to the complaints), but their actual dollar amounts have not yet been tabulated. Importantly, the understanding that a group by any name that solicits political contributions, conducts fundraisers, provides their own money, uses their assets in the process is a basic element of understanding that HFT is actually a political organization. There was nothing in any HFT solicitation material that I have found that has stated that STM98 was a different organization. In fact, materials submitted through the response process has indicated that HFT constructed the political coalition STM98 to which they were members and supporters. Clearly that letter is proof that they and their representative principals were political in nature, purpose, function, resources usage, and were politically soliciting others to do the same. Return of the $1,000 contribution is irrelevant to the condition of HFT being a political organization in and of itself. This organization and its officers and agents knowlingly orchestrated the solicitation and conducting of a strictly political fundraiser. They solicited excessively large in-kind contributions from others that stated in sworn statements they had been solicited by HFT and did not know the contribution was political in nature. HFT identified themselves in the process and conducted the fundraiser and other solicitations again identifying themselves as HFT in their introduction of the events. Duplicity and overlapping officers and agents is merely the shell game of this political scheme. It is now known that HFT solicited what has been deemed almost 100,000 political dollars actually placed in the STM98 coffers and another $140,000 of in-kind political contribution via Stephen Covey and/or the Franklin Covey Company. I strongly urge your activating a comprehensive investigation into these and all related complaints and their amendments regarding Hawaii's Future Today. For those allegations of violations which exceed CSC jurisdiction, I request you immediately request the Hawaii State Attorney General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (and all other federal agency authorities related to allegations of fraudulent solicitations, money laundering, and taxation violations) open criminal investigations accordingly. Sincerely, William E. Woods, MPH