Raising Cane
By Rob Perez
Wednesday, May 30, 2001
With the exception of the Legislature, no other group has as much outside influence on the state's two-year budget as these seven people. HEI exec often absent
for revenues councilNot lobbyists.
Not analysts.
Not voters.
The seven-member Council on Revenues issues quarterly tax revenue projections that essentially serve as caps for setting the state's proposed budget each biennium.
The council also forecasts growth in total personal income, which is used to limit growth in state general-fund spending.
Technically, the state can exceed those caps, but it must publicly disclose the reasons for doing so. In crafting its biennium budget, the state has topped the council's revenue projections only once in the past two decades.
Usually, what the council says, goes. It's pretty important stuff, often with far-reaching implications.
Which is all the more surprising that one of its members has had a tough time showing up for meetings lately.
Robert Clarke, Hawaiian Electric Industries chief executive, has missed five of the council's last seven meetings or workshops since September, including a session just last week. That's a more than 70 percent absentee rate.
To be sure, the council can function without all its members present. And all seven serve on a voluntary basis. They don't get paid for their work and should be applauded for providing such public service.
Still, when members agree to appointments, they become public servants and are expected to take their jobs on such an important panel seriously. That should include showing up for meetings on a fairly regular basis.
Clarke, who is wrapping up a two-year term and was re-appointed to another two-year term that starts in July, said he has had to travel an unusual amount the past several months because of his HEI job.
"I attend every (council) meeting when I'm in town," he said yesterday in a phone interview from New York. "I take it seriously."
Michael Sklarz, chairman of the group, declined comment.
Clarke's record is better when looking at council gatherings since the beginning of 2000. He missed five meetings and workshops out of 12 total, a 41 percent absentee rate.
After Clarke, attorney Vito Galati had the most absences at three, or a 25 percent absentee rate, in that same period.
"I'm just trying to be helpful," Clarke said. "If people don't think I'm being helpful, I would step aside in a minute."
No one is questioning Clarke's desire to be helpful. He just needs to show up at more meetings. If his HEI duties prevent that, he should step aside with our thanks for time already served.
Star-Bulletin columnist Rob Perez writes on issues
and events affecting Hawaii. Fax 529-4750, or write to
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. He can also be reached
by e-mail at: rperez@starbulletin.com.
