Charity isn’t free, even for lawmakers

Those who would like to rise to the defense of the existing ban on gifts to state employees have a simple question: What’s the problem?

Les Kondo, executive director of the state Ethics Commission, interprets the law to mean no gifts worth more than $25 are acceptable, unless there is a state benefit. If lawmakers want, say, to attend a charity event for free, they can simply make the case why it serves the state interest to do so. Kondo has said he’ll listen.

Otherwise, they can do what the rest of us, the unelected, do: Either buy a ticket or send their regrets. Or, if they want to keep up appearances, they can simply make a donation.

The central idea in the latest workaround attempt, House Bill 2457, is to carve out an exemption for "widely attended charitable events" as long as they’re reported. Here’s another simple question, and an answer: "Say, what?" And, "That’s ridiculous."

Another job opening at the Legislature

Everyone’s sorry to hear about people who have to leave a post for poor health, and that goes for state Rep. Tom Okamura, who had just been appointed to fill a vacancy in the House.

Okamura served previously for 20 years, ultimately rising to become majority leader, which may be why Gov. Neil Abercrombie picked him over two others the Democratic Party had backed.

Now the governor will make another appointment. Is anyone keeping a tally on how many this makes? All by the book, of course, but there sure have been a lot of them since the election.