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Changing Hawaii
EVERY spring about this time, the state House leadership comes tromping into the newsroom to call on the Star-Bulletin editorial board. This Tuesday, however, it was a very different experience for members of the Democratic majority and the editors who greeted them. Here come the
RepublicansFirst off, there wasn't zero or one but there were TWO females in the group -- Vice Speaker Sylvia Luke, 34, and Majority Floor Leader Marilyn Lee, 61. That's the most women ever to hold such powerful positions in the House. With all due respect to the enlightened males at the Capitol, maybe we'll be seeing more women- and family-friendly laws now that a contingent of the leadership actually wears skirts.
Second, the players were noticeably younger, with baby-faced representatives like 41-year-old Majority Leader Marcus Oshiro, and Majority Whips 36-year-old Scott Saiki and 28-year-old Brian Schatz, claiming seats at the table. They make gray-haired but still spry Speaker Calvin Say, 49, seem like the ojichan of the bunch.
Third, the Democrats spent an awful lot of energy complaining about the minority party's bothersome efforts to participate in the legislative process. Ladies and gentlemen, this is significant! It's a gripe that hasn't surfaced in the Legislature for a long, long time.
That's because there are a whopping 19 Republicans serving in the House this session, and they're using their parliamentary powers to recall bills that were stalled in committees, forcing floor discussions on controversial issues, and making formerly laid-back Dems actually rise from their chairs to defend their ideals in on-the-record speeches and votes.
It's true democracy in action, but the Dems aren't happy about it one bit. In fact, some of them act as though this is all a big nuisance since it requires them to painstakingly justify why they are for or against a measure. Now they will be held accountable by constituents for votes. No longer can they hide behind the vagaries of group-voiced ayes or nays come re-election. About time, huh?
Diane Yukihiro Chang's column runs Monday and Friday.
She can be reached by phone at 525-8607, via e-mail at
dchang@starbulletin.com, or by fax at 523-7863.