Say vows
openness in House
leadership

In a transfer of power that
some call poignant, Say says the days
of trading favors are over and
fairness will prevail

By Mike Yuen
Star-Bulletin

Speaker-elect Calvin Say has promised to lead the state House in an open fashion that takes full advantage of the talents of all its members.

And while he has asked Rep. Bertha Kawakami (D, Hanapepe) to move up from vice chairwoman to the No. 1 spot on the Finance Committee, Say (D, Palolo) said he will assemble his leadership team and committee chairmen in a fair and even-handed process that will include consulting with all House factions.

The days of trading favors to organize the chamber are over, Say said.

Say's remarks yesterday followed what some House Democrats said was a poig-nant transition of power, even though they knew what to expect. Rep. Joe Souki (D, Wailuku), realizing he did not have the votes to continue as speaker, had previously told his fellow Democrats that he was stepping aside. That made an open-ballot showdown with Say unnecessary.

House dissidents and disenchanted Souki supporters had appealed to Say to seek the speakership because they saw him as capable of pulling the chamber together.

At a closed-door majority caucus yesterday that took less than half an hour, Souki withdrew his candidacy and nominated Say, his longtime friend and protege. Say was then selected unanimously.

"It was sort of dramatic," said Rep. Dennis Arakaki (D, Kalihi Valley). "He was very gracious in nominating Calvin. Yet Calvin was also very gracious in acknowledging all the work that speaker has done over the past six years."

About 30 of the 39 Democrats in the 51-member House were present at the majority caucus, said Rep. Terry Nui Yoshinaga (D, Moiliili).

Before the House caucus, Senate Democrats, who control 23 of the Senate's 25 seats, retained veteran lawmaker Norman Mizuguchi (D, Aiea) as their president.

They also stripped Senate dissidents of co-chairmanships, gave four freshmen senators key positions. They also removed Sen. Brian Kanno (D, Ewa Beach), seen as unresponsive by business advocates, as their point man on labor issues.

The much-criticized system of committee co-chairs was revamped, with dual leaders remaining only for the important Ways and Means; Judiciary; and Consumer Protection committees.

Both Mizuguchi and Say voiced similar themes in remarks they made yesterday:

There was a message from voters in this year's election;

Voters want lawmakers to be productive in confronting isle problems;

Voters want lawmakers working collaboratively.

Souki, whose critics saw him as achieving his legislative goals with an "autocratic" style, said he did not seek anything from Say. "But I am ready to serve," he said.

Say said he envisions Souki as "speaker emeritus," free to sit in on any leadership and committee meeting and advise House leaders.

Say attributed much of whatever success he achieved as Finance Committee chairman to Souki, who held that post before becoming speaker six years ago.

"In essence, a relationship may have been broken, but I don't interpret it as being broken," Say said.

He'll be seeking Souki's counsel on how to run the House, Say said. "As far as policy issues, it goes to the (Democratic) caucus as a whole," Say added.

Asked how he would act if at some point strong leadership needed to be exerted because consensus building was floundering, Say said he has exhibited the ability to put his foot down when he led the Finance Committee.

As speaker, he said, "It'll probably be more toward friendly persuasion -- 'How's that?' -- and education."

Say said he wants Kawakami to lead the House's key money panel because of her long tenure on the committee and her knowledge of budgetary issues.

Moreover, she has shown that she can nurture members who are new to the panel, Say said.

Asked if she wants to be Finance Committee chairwoman, Kawakami replied, "Let's say I would be open to it."