Sen. Clayton Hee wants to see how Gov. Neil Abercrombie feels about requiring some of the most powerful state boards and commissions to start filing public financial disclosure statements. 

If Senate Bill 2682 can avoid a veto, Hee said he’s inclined to go along with the House version of the legislation despite its broader reach. 

The Senate draft would just require the Public Utilities Commission to publicly disclose their financial interests. The House version adds 15 more agencies, including the Hawaii Community Development Association, Board of Land and Natural Resources and University of Hawaii Board of Regents.

Hee opened the conference committee debate on the bill Thursday by asking state Rep. Angus McKelvey how wedded the House was to its version.

“We’re very wedded to the House position,” McKelvey said.

Hee asked if there was any chance of “divorce,” but no. 

McKelvey agreed to defer the measure until Tuesday so Hee could take the administration’s temperature since a veto override seems unlikely.

Hee said if by Tuesday it’s still unclear how Abercrombie feels about the bill, the Legislature should just pass it and force the issue. 

Read past Civil Beat coverage of the financial disclosure bill here. 

— Nathan Eagle

Photo: Hawaii Sen. Clayton Hee is seen here in this Civil Beat file photo.