THE COUNT IS OFF THE HOOK

OLD, TIRED EXCUSES NEVER ADD UP.



Posted on: Saturday, May 3, 2008
Superferry paid $379,431 for lobbying
Ethics panel satisfied with effort to amend initial claim of $21,960

By Derrick DePledge and Christie Wilson
Advertiser Staff Writers

Hawaii Superferry substantially underreported its state lobbying expenses last year as it fought an environmental impact statement and then asked for special legislation that allowed it to resume interisland service.
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Superferry executives at first reported $21,960 in lobbying expenses but, after being contacted by the state Ethics Commission, amended the reports to reflect $379,431 in lobbying expenses.

Dan Mollway, executive director of the commission, yesterday said Superferry would not be punished for the errors because the company cooperated and quickly filed the amended reports.

"They were totally willing to comply, and I didn't get any sense it was done intentionally or that they were trying to hide anything," he said.

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Ethics Commission records show Superferry spent more than twice as much on lobbying as any other organization in 2007. The second-higest lobbying expenditures were by a pharmaceutical group.