A federal judge has upheld Hawaii’s ban on direct political donations by State and County contractors. He said the state has an interest in preventing both actual corruption an the perception of corruption, i.e., that contractors must make political donations, in order to be awarded contracts. U. S. District Judge Michael Seabright made the ruling last week, after A-1 A-Lectrician challenged the ban as violating the First Amendment. The State Legislature approved a ban on political donations by State and County contractors in 2005 after campaign finance scandals. However, contractors may make donations to Political…
