Not a few lawmakers were grumbling at the Capitol today (Thursday, Jan. 12) about the 11th-hour decision of the State Ethics Commission Wednesday to allow them to attend a “Taste of Ag” event if they paid their own way.

“It came two hours before the event — too late for me to go,” said one legislator involved with agriculture issues. “Les Kondo thinks he’s judge and jury.”

The event at the Hawaii State Art Museum lawn was sponsored by the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association and the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation.

Another lawmaker, who was part of a meeting Wednesday with Ethics Commissioners and legislative leadership, said legislators hope to “educate” the commission on their views about invites from lobbyists.

“We feel we are not being heard,” said the lawmaker.