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IN AND AROUND THE CAPITOL
Lawmakers consider
adding to drug-abuse
treatment fundsStaff and wire reports
Week One
Bernadette Sanchez, who says she is no longer addicted to crystal methamphetamine, is looking forward to the day when she will finish her substance abuse treatment and can go shopping with her six children.
Sanchez, who used to sell drugs for a living until she was busted, says she wants to buy stuff for her kids with "clean" money, not drug money.
Sanchez was one of a number of women who came to a briefing yesterday to support bills to increase funding for substance abuse treatment.
Lawmakers are considering proposals to raise the alcohol tax by 5 percent and the tobacco tax by 20 percent to pay for more programs. It is estimated the tax increase and higher permit fees for people selling alcohol and tobacco would raise an additional $11 million a year.
"Drug abuse is so closely related to crime," said prisons chief Ted Sakai who also pushed the measures as a way to reduce prison overcrowding. "If they're back on drugs, there's a high likelihood they are going to commit a new crime."
Elaine Wilson of the state Health Department's substance abuse treatment program said an estimated 15,300 people, including adolescents, inmates, pregnant women and the mentally ill, need treatment in Hawaii. Lawmakers were told $11 million would enable the health department and other agencies to start new programs.
"It's a daunting task and it's going to take a lot of money," said Sen. Avery Chumbley (D, Kihei). "That's only enough money to start a program. It's clearly not enough to solve the problem."
Wilson said the cost of not treating substance abuse is estimated at $731 million for alcohol and drug abuse, with $440 million of the total related to alcohol and the rest to drugs.
Your tax dollars at
By Pat Omandam
work -- Week One
Star-BulletinCurrent and former speakers of the state House of Representatives have fond memories of one of their own, Daniel Kihano, who died Wednesday morning at St. Francis-West Hospital.
Longtime friend and former Speaker Joe Souki (D, Wailuku) said Kihano, who served as speaker from 1987 to 1992, was an advocate for the little guy who was "too nice for this kind of business."
Current Speaker Calvin Say (D, Palolo) said some of his fondest memories of Kihano, 66, were of him singing at the piano in the House chambers during breaks in the session. Say said Kihano had a good singing voice.
"He called to wish me the best of luck on opening day," Say said.
Other news of this week:
Public workers, public water:
Gov. Ben Cayetano in his State-of-the-State address this week unveiled plans for modernizing the state civil service system, focusing on reduced benefits for new state employees while assuring current employees he would not take away any agreed-upon benefits.Meanwhile, the governor's call for fluoridation of the islands' drinking water has rekindled the long-standing debate. The bill will be heard on Feb. 14.
Naps and snacks:
Sen. Rod Tam (D, Nuuanu) got some media mileage on bills he introduced requiring 10-minute naps in the morning and afternoons for state workers, as well as providing them with state-funded refreshments, such as coffee and drinks, to an estimated tune of $623,000 a year.The measures aren't being taken seriously at the Capitol. Nevertheless, the bills have raised Tam's name recognition in the community, and he even got some national chatter on a morning network show about the bills.
Hawaiian affairs:
The governor did this week what the board of trustees at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs couldn't do last December. That is, he picked an interim trustee from Kauai. The governor selected businessman and college instructor Donald Cataluna to fill the vacant seat, providing the nine-member board with the point of view of a corporate manager. Cataluna's term expires after this fall's elections.
The Judicious State:
Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Moon in his State-of-the-Judiciary address this week asked lawmakers for money for a permanent drug court on Maui, part of his goal to improve the quality of justice for everyone in Hawaii. Moon also asked for money to buy land for a Hilo judiciary complex, and to update the Judiciary's computer system.
Hirono vs. Harris:
Cayetano, in a meeting this week with Star-Bulletin editors, predicted Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono will be Hawaii's next governor -- although it wasn't a formal endorsement.Meanwhile, Mayor Jeremy Harris, a potential challenger to Hirono in 2002, has been targeted by former Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi, who wants his old job back.
Pay freeze:
Circuit Judge Virginia Crandall said a law freezing state and union talks about a possible pay raise was illegal, meaning arbitration on a new HGEA contract resumes.
Next week:
The House Economic Development and Business Concerns committee will discuss a bill to build a multi-purpose sports complex and a World Trade Center building in Kapolei at 8:30 a.m. Monday in Capitol Room 325.Bills that raise the minimum wage and establish "living wages" will be heard at 1 p.m. Thursday by the Senate committees on labor and government operations in Capitol Room 225.
Briefly
BILINGUAL STATE:
People would be able to testify before the state Legislature in English or Hawaiian under a bill proposed by state Rep. Kenny Goodenow (D, Waimanalo).House Bill 2313 would require lawmakers to provide Hawaiian language translators for those who want to testify at hearings in Hawaiian.
As proposed, the request for a translator must be made at least two days prior to the hearing. Written transcripts of the hearing, however, would remain in English.
Goodenow said he introduced the bill two years ago with the backing of Hawaiian language graduate students who said they would be willing to serve as translators.
Because English and Hawaiian are the official state languages, Goodenow said he believes people should be able to use either tongue before lawmakers.
TAKE THEIR CARS:
Maka-kilo Republican Rep. Mark Moses says it isn't good enough to just take away a drunken driver's license. He wants to crack down on drunken drivers by taking away their cars. He also favors taking the person's car registration and license plates -- immediately upon the person's arrest for drunken driving.Moses lost his son to a reckless drunken driver. His son was ejected from his car because he wasn't wearing a seat belt; Moses also wants to increase the penalty for those not wearing seat belts.
"Seeing these two bills become law is very important to me. There are families in Hawaii who will be protected from senseless pain; these bills will save lives," he said.
BURIAL FUNDS:
State Sen. Cal Kawamoto has introduced a bill seeking funds to assist with burials of World War II Filipino veterans.The purpose of the bill is to help families of deceased Filipino veterans with payments for funeral and burial services.
"Some people are on the waiting list because we ran out of money," said Kawamoto (D, Waipahu, Pearl City).
Some $2,000 would be given to each Filipino veteran, or veteran's surviving family members.
You can track bills, hearings and other Legislature action via: Get involved
Neighbor islanders, call toll-free and enter ext. 70478 after the number:
Big Island, 974-4000; Maui,
984-2400; Kauai, 274-3141;
Molokai and Lanai, 468-4644.
Legislature Directory
Legislature Bills & Hawaii Revised Statutes
http://www.state.hi.us
