To Our Readers
In Washington, the GOP seized control of both houses in 1994, riding the "Contract With America" to power. After early success, the Republican Revolution became bogged down in a protracted budget fight, losing popular support. Meanwhile, big entitlement programs - Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid - emerged from the budget battle unscathed.
Now, Democrats are regaining public support, backing popular issues like the minimum wage. The GOP seems to have run out of steam.
In Hawaii, with Democrats in all but seven seats, the Legislature also struggled to balance the budget, but not because of any philosophical conviction. It had to do it.
The agenda was clear: Reform no-fault auto insurance; fix the high-three legislative pension; pass real workers' comp relief for Hawaii businesses; and balance the budget by reinventing and downsizing government.
Instead, the Legislature, distracted by gambling and same-sex marriage, balanced the budget through expediency. It delayed state paychecks, slashed social service and welfare programs and gutted the appropriation for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
In Congress, the GOP ship stalled, running up against a tide of presidential vetoes and shifting public opinion. Hawaii's Legislature simply lost its way and sank.
