26th Legislature Now in Session
The 26th State legislature convened on January 19. It is scheduled to adjourn on May 5. There was no elected Speaker of the House at the opening session; something that had not happened in more than 40 years. But the House majority Democrats — 43 of 51 seats-managed, with prodding of U.S. Senator Dan Inouye, to re-elect Calvin Say as Speaker later in the day.
The Senate organized early in November with 24 Democrats and 1 Republican. Maui Senator Shan Tsutsui is the new president.
Speaker Say announced the House leadership team and the Committee chairmanships for the 26th Legislature. Rep. Joey Manahan is Vice Speaker, Rep. Blake Oshiro is Majority Leader, Rep. Cindy Evans is Majority Floor Leader and several in the House majority as Whips.
A complete list of both Senate and House leadership and committees are available online at the Hawaii State Legislature website:
Hawaii State Legislature:
http://capitol.hawaii.gov
House Leadership:
http://tinyurl.com/2011HouseL
House Committees:
http://tinyurl.com/2011HouseC
Senate Leadership:
http://tinyurl.com/2011SenateL
Senate Committees:
http://tinyurl.com/2011SenateC
Bill Status and Documents:
http://capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/
State Legislature Timetable
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/info/time/time.asp
House & Senate Telephone Directory (PDF)
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/2011_Hse_Sen_Tele_Directory.FINAL.pdf
Big issues for this Session will include the budget which faces more than an $800 million deficit over the next two fiscal years. Union contracts and demands will again be front and center.
Taxes, fees and employer mandates will be debated. The Governor proposed an increase in alcohol taxes, a new tax on soda, elimination of certain tax deductions, a massive tax on pensions that would hurt seniors, and a redirection of the hotel industry room tax. This would do great harm to hawaii’s leading industry.
The infamous internet “streamline” tax proposal will also reappear.
The Governor discussed job proposals but they are for public sector jobs and would not improve the business climate or grow private jobs.
The state’s troubled ERS — Employees Retirement System and Employees State Health System are severely under-funded.
The State Department of Human Services budget is growing exponentially. It now sits at $2.3 billion, second only to that of the State Department of Education with its $2.7 billion budget. It is quite possible that the Human Service Dept. budget will eclipse the Education Department in a few years.
Everyone wants more money but there is none. The state still doesn’t get it: we must control government expenditures and size, not cripple the private economy.