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Satisfied it did what it wanted to do, the state Legislature ended its second special session with goodbyes to the Senate president and wishes of good luck to other departing lawmakers. Lawmakers end
special session with
accolades for
departing colleaguesBy Pat Omandam
Star-BulletinSenate President Norman Mizuguchi, who conducted his last formal meeting with the full Senate yesterday, received bipartisan praise for his years of patience and advice -- traits that kept the Aiea lawmaker as president for the last seven years, the second-longest tenure since statehood.
Mizuguchi, 61, announced in June he was retiring. Yesterday on the Senate floor, he thanked his fellow lawmakers, as well as the people of his district for their support. He spent 26 years in the Legislature, the last 22 in the Senate.
"I will miss the association we have had for so long," Mizuguchi said. "But with no regrets and with the knowledge that we have done our best in developing public policy, I leave with fond memories, cherished friendships and mutual admiration for each and every one of you."
Sen. Colleen Hanabusa (D, Waianae), one of five freshman senators who last year was unhappy with Mizuguchi's leadership and pushed for reorganization of the Senate, questioned why Mizuguchi is leaving now.
"I can't understand after surviving the five freshmen senators you would want to retire," she said. "Why would you want to do that? You've survived us, so you should just continue on."
Senate Minority Floor Leader Sam Slom (R, Hawaii Kai), who often antagonizes the majority with whimsical speeches on the Senate floor, praised Mizuguchi for his fairness and inclusiveness.
"We are going to miss you," Slom said. "Who else dresses better than you do? Who else sings karaoke as you do? And I've got to say I've known you for more than 25 years and I don't how you look the same way you do after 25 years.
"You handsome bugga you."
Mizuguchi replied: "Finally, after all these years, a wonderful comment from the minority floor leader."
Also drawing compliments about his youthful looks was Sen. Joe Tanaka (D, Kahului), who at age 59 is retiring after eight years in the Senate and 13 years on the Maui City Council. Tanaka thanked his colleagues for their well-wishes but said the accolades sound more like a eulogy.
"We're not dying, we're just retiring," Tanaka said. "Give us a break."
Meanwhile, the House said goodbye to a few of its members this year. Leaving are state Reps.:
Also, former state Rep. Ron Menor is now a state senator, while former state Rep. Romy Cachola resigned recently to run for the Honolulu City Council.Alex Santiago (D, Pupukea);
The rest of the House is up for re-election this fall.
During the 11-day session, lawmakers changed the effective date of a new medical-privacy law to July 2001. They also passed an amendment to the state Constitution that would allow the state reapportionment commission next year to set the length of terms for state senators.
An inequity in the length of terms between incumbents and challengers in the 2002 elections prompted a grass-roots effort that persuaded lawmakers to fix the problem.
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