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On Politics
Richard Borreca
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Lawmakers still struggle to get it right
IF THIS WERE a country-and-western song, the chorus would be "What's so wrong about doing right?"
There's a new and vocal citizen's push to spruce up the state Legislature's regard for ethics. But many are having a hard time seeing any trouble.
The problem is the Legislature is part-time, and most of the 76 senators and representatives have outside jobs. With the jobs come built-in conflicts of interest, defenders say.
Along with their private jobs, legislators also have family and friends who, like most people, want something from the Legislature.
In addition, while working at the Legislature lawmakers are strapped for help. They need information, experience and guidance on complex issues.
So, legislators explain, how can you expect us to do anything else except lobby for friends and relatives to get tax breaks, try to pass laws that will help our own companies and pick up as interns businessmen who could benefit from our committee's actions?
These concerns came into focus last week, when the state House was poised to pass a tax break for Mike Oakland, president of Hawaii Motorsports Complex, so he could build a new racetrack. In the process of buying the land for the new track, Oakland needed to swap a parcel of land with the state's Hawaiian Home Lands Department. The land Oakland would swap was partially owned by Rep. Jerry Chang. Oakland is the father-in-law of Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland.
Of course, both stayed completely away from the behind-the-scene dealings. Uh, nope. Both were involved in circulating a letter asking that the House revive the tax break and push it through. When reporters were leaked information about the deal and questioned House leadership, just the hint of sunshine in the back rooms was enough for the tax break to be withdrawn without a vote.
Another House member, Rep. Bob Herkes, the new chairman of the Consumer Protection Committee, said he needed help with complex issues before his committee. Luckily, he was able to get the head of Hawaii Medical Services Association to volunteer as an intern, another intern came from an engineering firm and one aide is former Rep. Brian Yamane, an insurance agent. Herkes says the HMSA intern didn't handle any medical insurance bills in his committee, and the engineer and the insurance agent also didn't handle bills that would help their firms.
Perhaps more insidious is the new legislative trick of taking a bill about one subject, calling a hearing and then springing a totally new bill on the supporters of the original bill.
Only the supporters of the new bill are told about the switch, and the supporters of the original bill can only stand and watch the shadow game.
Larry Geller, president of Kokua Council, says the businessmen interns should be yanked immediately, and legislators should start passing laws to prohibit the back-room games.
After all, what's so wrong about doing right?
Richard Borreca writes on politics every Sunday in the Star-Bulletin. He can be reached at 525-8630 or by e-mail at
rborreca@starbulletin.com.