YOU MUST SNIFF IT

"Goings-on at the Capitol don't pass the smell test"

HB 2175, passed into law as Act 208

"State legislators quietly exempted themselves from ethics rules that bar state employees from using their official positions to gain unfair advantage for themselves or others. It's an honor to serve your state, but more profitable to serve yourself.

Les Kondo, executive director of the State Ethics Commission, told commissioners the broad exemption, while likely unintentional, results in removing their authority to rein in abuses of legislative power and authority.

'I can't emphasize this enough,' Kondo said."

IN RELATED NEWS:

"State Sen. Josh Green said he donated $2000 to two local medical

charities to dispel any notion that he would give special tratment to a company that later contributed to his campaign.

Green, a Hawaii island physician and chairman of the Senate's Health Committee, said Wednesday that he donated the money to 'avoid even the appearance of conflict.'"