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| Malia Zimmerman |
The Hawaii State Capitol was filled with stunning flower arrangements and plants, Tuesday, as harried florists delivered gifts to each lawmaker from family, friends and those hoping to affect public policy.
The more powerful the lawmakers, the more flowers they receive at the opening of the 60-day working session, which began Jan. 18 and wraps up in early May.
Opening day is like no other in the nation. Lawmakers covered in colorful, sweet-smelling leis, greet each other warmly, and pretend to like each other, as leaders from the majority and minority of each party lay out their plans for the coming year in a speech from the floor of each of their respective Houses.
After the political speeches, in which legislative leaders make all kinds of promises -- most they probably won’t keep -- some of the most talented performers on the island sing and dance for lawmakers and their guests.
Afterward, the guests and members of the public are invited to visit each of the 76 offices, where they can meet lawmakers and feast on a variety of delicious foods representing virtually every culture in Hawaii.
After the festivities end Wednesday, civilities are put aside and the battle of ideas begins.
In Hawaii, though Republicans are vocal, the battle is one-sided as there are 25 state Senators (5 who are Republican); and 51 state House members, (10 who are Republican), with Democrats dominating everything from schedules, to chairmanships, to finances, to what bills get a hearing, pass or fail.
Republican lawmakers usually base their success on how many bad bills they stop, rather than bills of their own that pass because with the drastic imbalance of power, Republican bills usually don’t pass and often the governor’s vetoes are overridden.
Gov. Linda Lingle, in office since 2002, is the first Republican governor to be elected in more than 40 years, however, she often sides with Democrats over the Republicans and leads the way in introducing liberal policies. She will lay out her proposals for the last year of her first four-year term on Monday, Jan. 23, 2006.
The real fight over the next few months will be over the $600 million surplus that the state accumulated because of a combination of imposing the highest overall tax burden in the nation on its residents and visitors and a booming economy, primarily in the visitor and construction segments.
Public workers, who control most of the Democratic lawmakers, will fight for yet another pay raise or benefit increase. Social service organizations will lobby for handouts for their constituents, including affordable housing and other subsidies. And taxpayer rights organizations will fight for money to be returned to the people who created the surplus in the first place -- the taxpayers.
Both political parties have interesting internal challenges this year, within their own caucuses. Robert Bunda still retains the presidency in the Hawaii State Senate, even after his political enemies attempted to re-organize throughout the session last year and oust him from the position. That fight over who will lead the Senate and chair important committees continues as Democrats are divided 10 to 10 on who will lead, and Republicans, with 5 seats, will not side with either side unless they are rewarded with a chairmanship or vice chairmanship of a committee.
In the House, Republicans are getting to know the newest member of their caucus. Anne Stevens, the former office manager for Sen. Gordon Trimble, was appointed by the governor on Monday, Jan. 16, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which some supporters say is particularly fitting because Stevens is part African-American. Stevens replaced former House Minority Leader Galen Fox, who resigned last year after being convicted of fourth-degree sexual assault for fondling a female passenger sitting beside him on flight from Hawaii to the Mainland U.S.
The Legislature is scheduled to wrap up Thursday, May 4. Unfortunately for the average person with common sense, the Legislature makes little sense. The proposals at the end of the 60-day session usually amount to higher taxes and fees for a state that already has the overall highest taxes in the nation; more regulations on citizens designed to make them "safe"; more mandates on business that will only hurt, not help, the economy; an education system that is even more screwed up than when lawmakers started out to fix it. Taxpayers would be a great deal safer -- as would their pocketbooks -- if lawmakers met once a decade.
Reach Malia Zimmerman, president and editor of Hawaii Reporter, via email at mailto:Malia@hawaiireporter.com
