Hanabusa contests
By Craig Gima
party criticism
Star-BulletinSen. Colleen Hanabusa (D, Wai-anae) is asking the state Democratic Party's Central Committee to retract its resolution condemning Democratic senators who voted against the confirmation of Mar-gery Bronster as attorney general and Earl Anzai as budget director.
Hanabusa was one of 14 senators who voted against Bronster's confirmation. Thirteen of the senators were Democrats. She also is asking for an apology.
"It (the committee's action) is a denial of our due process by a party that has traditionally stood for individual rights," Hanabusa said.
She said she wrote the letter to the party because she did not think it was right for the committee to pass the resolution without hearing from the senators.
"This is a party whose tradition has been built on openness, fighting for the little guy, fighting for individual rights even if they are unpopular," Hanabusa added.
State Democratic Party Chairman Walter Heen will present her request Aug. 28 in Lihue.
The Central Committee is made up of party representatives from each senatorial district and from the county and state organizations. It meets each quarter to discuss party policy and programs.
During its May 1 meeting in Hilo, the committee passed a resolution stating that the senators who voted against Bronster's and Anzai's confirmations "undermined the credibility, integrity and honorable traditions of the Democratic Party."
The resolution went on to express "disapproval and disavowal" of the senators' actions and apologized to other party members and the public.
Heen voted for the resolution but said he did not play an active role and will not try to influence the committee. "As chair ... I didn't engage in the debate. To quote the president of the Senate, I allowed the Central Committee to vote its conscience," Heen said.
Hanabusa said the resolution also sets a bad precedent. "What this says that anything controversial, you better check with the party first before you vote."
Legislature Directory
