LIHU‘E — This year was the “most rugged legislature session in Hawai‘i’s history,” said state Sen. Gary Hooser at Thursday morning’s Lihu‘e Business Association meeting. Hooser, along with state Rep. Roland Sagum, D-Po‘ipu-Waimea-Ni‘ihau, were keynote speakers for the organization’s annual
LIHU‘E — This year was the “most rugged legislature session in Hawai‘i’s history,” said state Sen. Gary Hooser at Thursday morning’s Lihu‘e Business Association meeting.
Hooser, along with state Rep. Roland Sagum, D-Po‘ipu-Waimea-Ni‘ihau, were keynote speakers for the organization’s annual meeting, where some 25 people were in attendance.
Largely rehashing the “accomplishments” of 2010’s session and fielding questions from audience members, Hooser and Sagum were the only government representatives present as state Rep. Mina Morita, D-Kapa‘a-Hanalei, and previously scheduled state Rep. Jimmy Tokioka, D-Wailua-Lihu‘e-Koloa, were on the Mainland, said LBA President Pat Griffin.
From passing HB 444 regarding civil unions to developing a “balanced budget without taking transient accommodations tax” away from counties and restoring school furlough days, 2010 was a notable year, Hooser said.
And while Maui, the Big Island and Kaua‘i were united in their determination to keep TAT money on island, “controversial” bills like HB 444 found representatives’ opinions divided, said Hooser, D-Kaua‘i-Ni‘ihau.
Although Hooser said he was “very proud” of the outcome of HB 444, Sagum said he “felt the language in the bill equated to marriage” and in representing West Kaua‘i with “very strong Christians” who were sending him “stack of e-mails,” his vote was no.
“I was in the minority, but proud to represent Kaua‘i,” Sagum said.
But HB 444 is not about “same-sex marriage,” rather it provides the “same contractual rights,” but would only be recognized on a state level and not federal and applies to “opposite-gender couples too,” Hooser said.
It is “not a blessing or sanctioning” — that is left “to the churches,” he said.
The bill currently awaits Gov. Linda Lingle’s action. She met recently with fans and foes of the bill, and has until next month to sign, veto or let the bill become law without her signature.
Another significant achievement of the legislative session, according to Hooser, was balancing the budget without having to increase general-excise taxes.
The GET was a “big issue” and “will become a realization next year,” Sagum said.
Hawai‘i has the “lowest GET in the nation,” yet the 50th state also collects “the most taxes in general,” he said.
While many bills made headlines this year, some passed without much notice, such as SB 2068, which adjusts the age of children entering into public-school kindergarten, Hooser said.
Requiring children to be “at least 5 years of age on the first day of instruction” of “public-school kindergarten,” according to the bill, would position Hawai‘i with “most private schools” and Mainland public schools, Hooser said.
This would be a huge development and would alter the “maturity level” and thereby “change test scores,” he said.
The bill also awaits Lingle’s decision.
With some 1,500 bills this year and “typically” around 2,000 a year considered, it is “hard for one person to look at” all of them, Sagum said, encouraging more community interest.
“You guys are so humble and trusting,” he said regarding the “Kaua‘i community,” but it’s important to get involved.
Hooser agreed.
“It’s only when the community and politics align we’re going to get anywhere,” he said.
• Coco Zickos, business and environmental writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or czickos@kauaipubco.com.
