Editorials

Tuesday, October 23, 2001

Speed doesn’t exceed
need for public input

The issue: The state Legislature
has mapped an economic course
outside of the public view.

Emergency necessitates rapid response, and state lawmakers this week are attempting to move quickly to prop up Hawaii's free-falling economy. The problem here is that the voters and taxpayers are being left out in the cold.

Lawmakers, after meeting behind closed doors in the past few weeks, had already devised an agenda of 17 bills for consideration during the special session of the state Legislature that began yesterday and is expected to end Monday. Public hearings on all measures were scheduled for this morning, but the hearings seem more for show than for real discussion of the proposals because the time frame legislators have set forth does not allow for major revisions or amendments.

Although legislators solicited ideas and suggestions from citizens, businesses and advocacy groups at a few meetings earlier this month, most of the substance of the bills was formulated in caucuses and unofficial sessions away from public view. The bills were posted publicly on Sunday, short of the required 72 hours' notice for today's hearings, which lawmakers can dismiss by voting to waive the law.

Legislators are attempting to do the right thing by expeditiously approving measures to extend unemployment benefits and health-care coverage to those who have lost their jobs, to stimulate investment through tax credits and to provide funds for construction projects and tourism promotion. It is laudable that lawmakers, a usually sluggish, contentious bunch, have recognized the need for speed and have been able, by and large, to set aside partisan bickering to reach consensus on measures.

However, there is no reason that the session cannot be extended a few more days to allow adequate public discussion.

The problem is not that the bills or politicians are suspect, but that voters have a right to know how these matters have been decided and that they have the opportunity to voice their opinions.

More important, legislators have failed to recognized that there is a public need to know, that if we are to succeed in rescuing our economy, a shared common objective is necessary. Cutting citizens out of the equation will not accomplish this. Lawmakers should take the time to hear from the people who put them in the state Capitol.

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Terror campaign
gets mixed reaction

The issue: President Bush
has returned from Shanghai's
summit meeting on terror.

President Bush got back to the White House early Monday morning after scoring several hits and a few misses during meetings with the leaders of 20 Asian and Pacific nations.

He got a rousing condemnation of terror but failed to get much backing for the U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan. The president received warm greetings from his Russian counterpart but a cool reception from the Chinese. The president was applauded by President Kim Dae-jung of South Korea and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan for his leadership against terrorism but was forced to stand aside while Taiwan was humiliated by the Chinese host of the annual summit meeting of leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

The leaders produced a statement condemning the terrorist attacks of September 11: "Leaders consider the murderous deeds as well as other terrorist acts in all forms and manifestations, committed wherever, whenever and by whomsoever as a profound threat to the peace, prosperity and security of all people, of all faiths, of all nations." American officials, however, failed to persuade other delegates to approve the aerial assault on Afghanistan.

President Vladimir Putin was close to effusive in a press conference with Bush: "Our strategic priority is long-term cooperation and partnership, a partnership which is based upon the common values of one civilization." He said the American action against Afghanistan "was measured and adequate to the threat"; this from the leader of a nation that fought a draining, losing war in Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989.

In contrast, President Jiang Zemin sought to highlight disparities between the United States and China: "Given the differences in national conditions, it is not surprising that there are certain disagreements between China and the United States." He harped on the question of Taiwan, as usual. President Bush was cool: "I explained my views on Taiwan and preserving regional stability."

For weeks the Chinese and Taiwanese jousted over who would represent the island over which China claims sovereignty but which seeks to remain separate from the mainland. President Chen Shui-bian wanted to represent his nation, on a par with other heads of government, but the Chinese would have none of that. They also precluded former Vice President Li Yuan-zu from attending.

After the Chinese foreign minister, Tang Jiaxuan, refused to permit the economic minister from Taiwan, Lin Hsin-i, to speak during a pre-summit news conference, the Taiwanese withdrew. Not a good omen for relations across the Taiwan Strait.

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Published by Oahu Publications Inc., a subsidiary of Black Press.

Don Kendall, President

John Flanagan, publisher and editor in chief 529-4748; jflanagan@starbulletin.com
Frank Bridgewater, managing editor 529-4791; fbridgewater@starbulletin.com
Michael Rovner, assistant managing editor 529-4768; mrovner@starbulletin.com
Lucy Young-Oda, assistant managing editor 529-4762; lyoungoda@starbulletin.com

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