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The state House of Representatives will try again today to get on with business after a week full of delays that forced a preliminary legislative deadline to be pushed back until this week. Dems vow to use
majority strength against
future GOP tactics
in HouseBy Pat Omandam
Star-BulletinHouse Republicans are challenging the Democratic majority's actions that bottled up discussion on bills recalled by the minority group last week. Negotiations to work out a compromise fizzled on Friday, the original deadline for all bills to be forwarded for their final committee for discussion.
As a result, House and Senate leaders agreed to extend the first lateral deadline until midnight tonight. There are 19 Republicans in the 51-member House, enough to recall bills from committees and to force a roll-call vote on every motion before the full body.
Republican floor leader David Pendleton (Maunawili/Enchanted Lake) said Republicans retaliated against the majority's action last week by conducting a tactical slowdown that brought the House work to a halt. Democrats responded by simply recessing the session and letting the unpassed bills pile up, he said.
"We offered to untangle the mess, but they walked out on our negotiations and threatened to throw the full voting strength of the majority against us," Pendleton said.
"In effect, they bargained in bad faith, promised war and did nothing."
Indeed, House leaders pledged to use all their powers to complete their work. Majority leader Marcus R. Oshiro (Wahiawa-Whitmore Village) said the Democrats met in good faith with Republicans and were willing to accommodate specific requests to have public discussion on bills recalled.
But the minority wanted more, Oshiro said, and tried to extract new demands not previously discussed.
"It's now clear that their talk of wanting public debates is just a smokescreen," he said.
Oshiro said when the floor session reconvenes this morning, Democrats pledge to use every House and parliamentary rule to cut off dilatory or obstructionist Republican actions. He expects the minority group to cry foul when the "full voting strength" of the majority is brought to bear on the problem.
"We don't want to stifle legitimate debate on bills up for passage. But we will no longer tolerate attempts to delay or discredit the hard work of many good legislators," Oshiro said.
Republican Whip Paul Whalen (Kona) noted it's far better to have discussion on issues than have the two sides at each other's throats stopping debate.
"You'd think Democrats would be more willing to embrace the virtue of democratic debate, discussion and the right of every vote to count," Whalen said.
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