Legislators As House and Senate lawmakers prepare the session's final legislation, key Democrats say a caution from Gov. Linda Lingle that opponents of her initiatives may face political backlash will not deter them from passing bills they feel best serve the people.
dismiss gov’s
warning
House opponents bridle at
a suggestion from Lingle that
they will suffer at the pollsBy B.J. Reyes
Associated Press"The process here is like a washing machine: It goes through several cycles," said Senate President Robert Bunda (D, Kaena-Wahiawa-Pupukea). "Our procedures and our agenda and our timetable is such that it goes through a rigorous washing.
"If there's an issue that needs to be amended or not moved forward, there's going to be a reason for that."
House Majority Leader Scott Saiki (D, Moiliili-McCully) added that he believes the public understands what lawmakers are up against as issues work their way through the legislative process.
"There is really no set magic answer to any of the issues that are facing our state," Saiki said.
Lingle said last week that lawmakers who continue to oppose some of her key initiatives are likely to face political consequences in 2004.
"I think any legislator that votes against the public interest will suffer in the next election," she said.
Lingle was referring specifically to her proposal to improve state schools by letting voters decide whether to break up the state's centralized school board.
The Senate has kept alive a measure that would place a question on the ballot in 2004 asking voters whether they support the concept of local school boards. The bill could be used to revive Lingle's plan to establish at least seven locally elected school boards and redefine the duties of the statewide board.
House lawmakers -- as they have all session -- declined to advance a similar bill, repeating their argument that because a question would not go on the ballot until 2004, they have ample time to further study the issue.
"It's unfortunate that the governor has decided that in order to get anything done in this place, she has to threaten people about election in 2004," said House Education Chairman Roy Takumi (D, Pearl City-Pacific Palisades). "We're trying to do something that's good for the schools and the students and worry about the election later."
House lawmakers have put forth their own proposals to improve schools.
Most recently, House Democrats unveiled a plan that would budget money to schools based on the makeup of their student population.
Schools with high-poverty students, rural or isolated populations or higher teacher or student turnover might receive more money per pupil, and special-education students also would get more money on average.
Additionally, principals would have more flexibility in spending, as opposed to having many programs instituted for their schools by the state Department of Education.
Aside from school governance, House and Senate lawmakers also will have to reconcile their differences on how to balance the state budget.
A key part of the Senate's budget plan is a bill increasing the state's 4 percent general excise tax to 4.5 percent -- with most of the new revenue going toward education.
Senate Ways and Means Chairman Brian Taniguchi (D, Moiliili-Manoa) has said that without the increase, education programs face steep cuts.
The House has sided with Lingle on the issue -- opposing any increase in the general excise tax, or GET.
Bunda noted that as lawmakers head to conference committee to hammer out the bills in their final forms, all measures will be placed under careful scrutiny.
"I believe that whether any issue goes in support for the governor's initiatives or against the governor's initiatives -- all subjects, all areas, have been debated thoroughly and have gone through several cycles," Bunda said.
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