Civil unions

One of the most divisive issues in the 2009 legislative session was whether or not the Legislature should approve a bill to legalize civil unions and to make civil unions synonymous to marriage. For transparency sake, I will disclose that I voted against the civil unions measure on the floor of the House.

Here I will comment on civil unions in three areas: should the legislature take up the issue in 2010, Hawai‘i’s constitutional question voted on in 1998, and the option of making it a Federal law instead of a State law.

First, as the Republican Leader in the Hawai‘i State House of Representatives, I frequently talk with people from across the state about the issues that are most important to them. The economy, jobs and education are consistently emphasized to me. We are facing serious unemployment challenges with Kaua‘i currently at 9.6 percent. Our focus should not be distracted from these very important issues and I advocate that we not take up this issue during the next legislative session.

Second, the people of Hawai‘i voted on this issue and their vote and the democratic process should be protected. On Nov. 3, 1998, the voters overwhelmingly voted to amend the constitution in order to grant the legislature the power to limit marriage to a man and a woman by a vote of 69 percent to 28 percent. If the legislature would like the public to reconsider their position, it should be done above board and in the open through another public vote. The Civil Unions bill is an emotionally charged issue that once the public learned of it, brought hundreds to testify and an estimated ten thousand to rally in opposition at the State Capitol. It drew the largest rally by far that I have seen since being elected.

Third, there is the possibility of a Civil Union or Same Sex Marriage federal law that, if enacted, would provide a blanket of guidelines that would fall across the entire nation. I believe in home rule, where states retain decision-making, and do not believe that there should be a federal law. Over the years, all 50 states debated this issue and came to their own conclusion based on their constituency.

As an elected official, I believe that debate is healthy. I am not saying the Civil Unions or Same Sex Marriage issue is unimportant. I cannot emphasize enough, though, that we are in a period that requires everyone to make tough choices, make sacrifices, and as much as possible look for areas of collaboration. At a time when people are losing their jobs, their homes, and their education, it is absolutely essential that we, the people of the State of Hawai’i, focus on recovering from the economic slump and improving education for the sake of our future.

•Lynn Finnegan is the Republican leader in the state House, representing the 32nd District, including Aiea, Hickam and Pearl Harbor.