Senate trims The Senate last night changed a sweeping emergency powers bill, after listening to six days of calls from the public that it would have given Gov. Ben Cayetano too much control.
governor’s power
in emergency bill
The bill gives Republicans a
place on an advisory panelBy Richard Borreca
rborreca@starbulletin.com
Windward Republican Sen. Fred Hemmings yesterday pushed an amendment to the bill to limit Cayetano's emergency powers to specific areas, instead of giving him unlimited authority to change or amend any existing state law or rule.
"We are limiting his scope," says Sen. Robert Bunda (D, North Shore), Senate president.
The new bill also adds the Republican House and Senate leaders onto a legislative panel that will function as an advisory committee that is to be informed of any actions Cayetano takes under the emergency powers bill. The original bill limited the committee to just the Senate president and speaker of the House.
Hemmings said: "There was recognition that the bill was too broad and sweeping."
The amendment gives Cayetano specific powers to suspend any law or rule relating to the economic stimulus package that is already under consideration in the legislature.
"We are confident it gives the governor the latitude and flexibility he needs to deal with this emergency while at the same time addressing public concerns about its long-term implications," Bunda said.
The next question is whether the House will go along with the amendments.
Democratic leader Rep. Marcus Oshiro (D, Wahiawa-Whitmore Village) was surprised the Senate changed the bill.
"I'm surprised because they just passed out the measure last week and they heard the same testimony then," he said.
Oshiro said the House leadership discussed the amendments and plans to bring it to the entire Democratic caucus today.
"We are open to a review of the amendments," Oshiro said.
House Speaker Calvin Say (D, Palolo-Kaimuki) acknowledged that his office was flooded with phone calls last week about the emergency powers bill and that "was a concern."
Bunda said some of the areas that the amended bill will allow Cayetano to address with emergency powers include financial, food and housing aid for the needy, emergency medical insurance, tax relief for businesses, extended unemploy- ment insurance benefits, improved public security and tourism promotion.
The emergency powers act would start as soon as Cayetano signs it, but will only last until April 30.
The original bill was criticized by Linda Lingle, state GOP chairwoman, who said it would have given Cayetano power to change or suspend any state rule or law.
She called it an abdication of the legislature's power and had urged Republicans to call and protest the measure.
At the same time the Legislature was dealing with the emergency powers bill, a new concern popped up. The state's council on revenues meets on Thursday and is expected to dramatically lower the estimate of how much money the state collects. If revenue estimates fall, the state will have to consider cuts to the state budget and some legislators want the Legislature to stick around to deal with that.
"I think it would be prudent to wait," Sen. Sam Slom (R, Hawaii Kai) said yesterday.
But Sen. Brian Taniguchi (D, Manoa), Ways and Means Committee chairman, said the Legislature still had to wait for Cayetano to draft a new budget and any changes could be handled when the legislature convenes in January.
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