WATCH for more than flowers, food and friends in the House and Senate chambers at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The opening of the Legislature at the State Capitol also signals the start of a critically important state election season.
The 41 Democrats in the 51-member House and the 20 Democrats in the 25-member Senate see the session as a continuation of their majority power, which has stretched unbroken since statehood in 1959.
But all 51 House members and 11 senators are up for election, along with Gov. Linda Lingle.
Democrats will look to the session to continue to drive home the differences between their party and the GOP governor.
Senate President Robert Bunda says it will be critical for the Democrats to hold to a "common agenda."
Key Democratic issues, such as the price cap on the wholesale price of gasoline, are areas that Bunda says the Democrats cannot waiver.
"The majority has said this is going to be policy, in reference to state energy policy," Bunda said.
Gov. Lingle, who campaigned against the gas cap four years ago, is again calling for a repeal of the plan.
Both Republicans and Democrats are predicting that the state Legislature will remain in Democratic hands after the November elections, but how individual legislators compete is at issue.
Both houses face challenges to leadership. Sen. Robert Bunda was elected president in 2001 after former president Norman Mizuguchi declined to run for re-election in 2000. Bunda's position at the head of a coalition was tested at the end of the session last year when a resolution passed regarding Senate rules.
The vote was opposed by Bunda's own faction, and it served as something of a test vote of confidence on Bunda's leadership.
With the defeat of two supporters -- former Sens. Cal Kawamoto and Melodie Aduja in 2004 -- Bunda has spent time during the interim trying to shore up his position.
Rivals now include Senate Vice President Donna Kim and Senate Judiciary Chairwoman Colleen Hanabusa. But no one has put together a coalition with the 13 votes needed to defeat Bunda's presidency.
Instead, Bunda's adversaries are saying privately that they expect to support new Democratic candidates in the Senate who would oppose Bunda's Senate presidency in 2007.
Bunda is also expected to help candidates or incumbents who would support him, if the 24-year legislative veteran decides to seek the presidency again in 2007.
In the House, Calvin Say has represented the Palolo-St. Louis Heights area since 1976, and served as House Speaker since 1999, when he ousted Maui Democrat Joe Souki. After last year's election, Say survived a threat to his leadership as younger Democrats led by Reps. Scott Saiki and Brian Schatz attempted to take over.
Under Say's leadership, the Democrats in the House have gone from 32 to 41 -- a serious defeat for Republican Lingle. The governor's chances of positioning bills for debate on the House floor were hurt in the 2004 election when the number of GOP representatives fell below the one-third needed to call for debate.
Now House GOP leader Lynn Finnegan is hoping the 2006 election will bring in more Republicans.
"What we are trying to do is make government a better process, and you can do that by having more of a balance in the House. It will mean better debate, and we will be able to force members to talk about issues," Finnegan said.
Before she can start increasing GOP numbers, Finnegan has to know who she has in the House. That was a mystery as of yesterday, as Lingle had not yet appointed a Republican to fill the vacancy created when Rep. Galen Fox resigned after his federal conviction for fondling an airline passenger.
Lingle yesterday said she hoped to be able to fill the Waikiki House seat before opening day.
State Senate
SENATE PRESIDENT
Robert Bunda (D) 22nd: Kaena, Wahiawa-Pupukea Room: 003; office: 586-6090 fax: 586-6091; home: 622-8016; e-mail: senbunda@capitol.hawaii.gov
Robert Bunda is leading the Senate for the eighth year. The chamber has 20 Democrats and five Republicans.
1st Lorraine Inouye (D) Hilo-Honokaa
Chairwoman: Transportation and Government Operations
Vice chairwoman: Higher Education
Member, Intergovernmental Affairs; Ways and Means
Room: 201; office: 586-7335; fax: 586-7339; home: unlisted; from Big Island, toll-free 974-4000 + 67335; e-mail: seninouye@capitol.hawaii.gov
2nd Russell S. Kokubun (D) Hilo-Naalehu
Chairman: Water, Land and Agriculture
Vice chairman: Energy, Environment and International Affairs
Member, Human Services; Ways and Means
Room: 213 ; office: 586-6760; fax: 586-6689; home: unlisted; from Big Island, toll-free 974-4000 +66760; e-mail: senkokubun@capitol.hawaii.gov
3rd Paul Whalen (R) Milolii-Waimea
Member: Health; Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs; Transportation and Government Operations
Room: 223; office: 586-9385; fax: 586-9391; home: unlisted; from Big Island, toll-free 974-4000 + 69385; e-mail: senwhalen@capitol.hawaii.gov
4th Shan S. Tsutsui (D) Wailuku, Kahului
Majority caucus leader
Vice chairman: Ways and Means
Member: Education and Military Affairs; Health; Tourism
Room: 206; office: 586-7344; fax: 586-7348; home: unlisted; from Maui, toll-free 984-2400 + 67344; e-mail: sentsutsui@capitol.hawaii.gov
5th Rosalyn H. Baker (D) Honokohau-Makena
Chairwoman: Health
Vice chairwoman: Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing
Member, Higher Education; Intergovernmental Affairs; Transportation and Government Operations
Room: 220; office: 586-6070; fax: 586-6071; home: 667-2225 (Lahaina); from Maui, toll-free 984-2400 + 66070; e-mail: senbaker@capitol.hawaii.gov
6th J. Kalani English (D) East Maui, Lanai, Molokai
Chairman: Energy, Environment & International Affairs
Member, Intergovernmental Affairs; Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs; Media, Arts, Science and Technology; Water, Land and Agriculture; Ways and Means
Room: 205; office: 587-7225; fax: 587-7230; home: unlisted; from Molokai and Lanai, toll-free 800-468-4644 + 77225, from Maui, toll-free 984-2400 + 77225; e-mail: senenglish@capitol.hawaii.gov
7th Gary L. Hooser (D) Kauai, Niihau
Vice chairman: Education and Military Affairs; Water, Land and Agriculture
Member, Energy, Environment and International Affairs; Human Services; Ways and Means
Room: 207; office: 586-6030; fax: 586-6031; home: 652-4279; from Kauai, toll-free 274-3141 + 66030; e-mail: senhooser@capitol.hawaii.gov
8th Sam Slom (R) Diamond Head-Hawaii Kai
Member: Intergovernmental Affairs; Labor; Tourism; Ways and Means
Room: 222; office: 586-8420; fax: 586-8426; home: 396-7566; e-mail: senslom@capitol.hawaii.gov
9th Les Ihara Jr. (D) Kahala-Palolo
Vice chairman: Human Services; Labor
Member: Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs; Media, Arts, Science and Technology
Room: 217; office: 586-6250; fax: 586-6251; home: unlisted; e-mail: senihara@capitol.hawaii.gov
10th Brian T. Taniguchi (D) Moiliili-Manoa
Chairman: Ways and Means
Member: Labor
Room: 210; office: 586-6460; fax: 586-6461; home: unlisted; e-mail: sentaniguchi@capitol.hawaii.gov
11th Carol Fukunaga (D) Lower Makiki-Punchbowl
Chairwoman: Media, Arts, Science and Technology
Vice chairwoman: Business and Economic Development
Member, Human Services; Water, Land and Agriculture; Ways and Means
Room: 216; office: 586-6890; fax: 586-6899; home: unlisted; e-mail: senfukunaga@capitol.hawaii.gov
12th Gordon Trimble (R) Downtown-Waikiki
Minority policy leader
Member: Business and Economic Development; Higher Education; Human Services; Ways and Means
Room: 203; office: 586-7100; fax: 586-7109; home: unlisted; e-mail: sentrimble@capitol.hawaii.gov
13th Suzanne Chun Oakland (D) Kalihi-Liliha
Chairwoman: Human Services
Vice chairwoman: Health
Member: Education and Military Affairs; Higher Education; Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs
Room: 226; office: 586-6130; fax: 586-6131; home: 550-4735; e-mail: senchunoakland@capitol.hawaii.gov
14th Donna Mercado Kim (D) Kalihi Valley-Halawa
Vice president
Chairwoman: Tourism
Vice chairwoman: Intergovernmental Affairs
Member: Ways and Means
Room: 231; office: 587-7200; fax: 587-7205; home: unlisted; e-mail: senkim@capitol.hawaii.gov
15th Norman Sakamoto (D) Salt Lake-Foster Village
Majority policy leader
Chairman: Education, Military Affairs
Member: Business and Economic Development; Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing; Higher Education; Ways and Means
Room: 230; office: 586-8585; fax: 586-8588; home: 833-6734; e-mail: sensakamoto@capitol.hawaii.gov
16th David Y. Ige (D) Aiea-Pearl City
Chairman: Intergovernmental Affairs
Vice chairman: Media, Arts, Science and Technology
Member: Business & Economic Development*
Room: 215; office: 586-6230; fax: 586-6231; home: unlisted; e-mail: sendige@capitol.hawaii.gov
17th Ron Menor (D) Mililani
Chairman: Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing
Member: Business and Economic Development; Transportation and Government Operations
Room: 219; office: 586-6740; fax: 586-6829; home: unlisted; e-mail: senmenor@capitol.hawaii.gov
18th Clarence K. Nishihara (D) Waipahu
Vice chairman: Tourism
Member: Education and Military Affairs; Intergovernmental Affairs; Ways and Means
Room: 208; office: 586-6970; fax: 586-6879; home: unlisted; e-mail: sennishihara@capitol.hawaii.gov
19th Brian Kanno (D) Kalaeloa-Makakilo
Chairman: Labor
Member: Transportation and Government Operations; Ways and Means
Room: 202; office: 586-6830; fax: 586-6679; home: unlisted; e-mail: senkanno@capitol.hawaii.gov
20th Will Espero (D) Ewa, Kapolei, Ewa Beach
Chairman: Business and Economic Development
Vice chairman: Transportation and Government Operations*
Room: 228; office: 586-6360; fax: 586-6361; home: 685-5628; e-mail: senespero@capitol.hawaii.gov
21st Colleen Hanabusa (D) Nanakuli-Makua
Majority leader
Chairwoman: Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs
Member: Energy, Environment and International Affairs; Health
Room: 214; office: 586-7793; fax: 586-7797; home: unlisted; e-mail: senhanabusa@capitol.hawaii.gov
24th Bob Hogue (R) Kaneohe, Kailua
Minority floor leader
Member: Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing; Education and Military Affairs; Media, Arts, Science and Technology
Room: 204; office: 587-7215; fax: 587-7220; home: unlisted; e-mail: senhogue@capitol.hawaii.gov
25th Fred Hemmings (R) Lanikai-Waimanalo
Minority leader
Member: Energy, Environment and International Affairs; Water, Land and Agriculture; Ways and Means
Room: 221; office: 587-8388; fax: 587-7240; home: 371-3577; e-mail: senhemmings@capitol.hawaii.gov
State House
The chamber has 41 Democrats and 10 Republicans.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Calvin K.Y. Say (D) 20th: St. Louis Heights-Wilhelmina Rise-Palolo Valley Room: 431; office: 586-6100 fax: 586-6101; home: 732-0221; e-mail:repsay@capitol.hawaii.gov
Calvin Say is in his 10th year as speaker.
2nd Jerry L. Chang (D) Piihonua-Kaumana
Chairman: Tourism & Culture
Member: Agriculture; Economic Development & Business Concerns; Education; Higher Education
Room 435; office: 586-6120; fax 586-6121; home: unlisted; from the Big Island, toll-free 974-4000 + 66120; e-mail: repchang@capitol.hawaii.gov
4th Helene H. Hale (D) Pahoa-Kalapana
Chairwoman: International Affairs
Member: Education; Health; Human Services; Housing; Higher Education
Room: 331; office: 586-6530; fax: 586-6531; home: unlisted; e-mail: rephale@capitol.hawaii.gov
5th Robert N. Herkes (D) Volcano-Kainaliu
Chairman: Consumer Protection and Commerce
Member: Agriculture; Economic Development & Business Concerns
Room: 320; office: 586-8400; fax: 586-8404; home: 985-8901; e-mail: repherkes@capitol.hawaii.gov
6th Dr. Josh Green (D) Keauhou-Honokohau
Vice chairman: Health
Member: Education; Higher Education; Housing; Human Services; International Affairs
Room: 327; office: 586-9605; fax: 586-9608; home: unlisted; e-mail: repgreen@capitol.hawaii.gov
