On Politics
BY RICHARD BORRECA
With her health plan,
first lady joins political fray
-- but will she stay there?She admits having no patience for politics, she rebuffs suggestions that she is looking for a political career or a legacy, but Vicky Cayetano is becoming one of the players in this legislative session.
There are no written rules for the governor's spouse, but there are plenty of assumptions as to the spouse's role.
"Of course there is a dual standard," says Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, Senate vice president and a labor lawyer, serving her first term in the Legislature.
If the governor's spouse is a women "she is viewed as someone who is expected to greet guests and be a hostess -- a protocol officer," but if the spouse is a man, "I don't think a husband is assumed to be making small talk."
"That's the perception -- but it is your bias, not mine," Hanabusa says.
This year Vicky Cayetano pushed the definition of first lady not only by being the accessible hostess for Washington Place, the governor's mansion, but by redesigning Washington Place -- making the historic home of Hawaii's last queen into a museum and starting construction on a new home for Hawaii's governor.
Although she raised eyebrows with the Washington Place project because it was done without consulting with the Legislature, Cayetano charged ahead, organizing a lobbying effort for long-term care insurance.
And it wasn't just a study commission, or an agency, but a complete plan, including a $10-a-month surcharge on Hawaii residents.
Cayetano became interested in the problem of long-term care while taking care of her own father and seeing employees at her firm, United Laundry Services, struggle with the problems of elderly parents.
"It is far too much to say this is moving because the first lady wants this; it is the community that demands it.
"We have not been short of discussion. We have had discussion for many years. We have been short on a strategy and a plan that people can understand," she says.
Joan White, vice president of Healthcare Association, a heath trade association, says Cayetano has "brought people to the table" to discuss the issue.
"She has depoliticized the issue," White says.
Removing politics from a legislative debate, however, may be a bit much to ask.
Sen. Sam Slom, who served for two years on a bipartisan commission on the subject of long-term care, says Cayetano's plan is simply the most expensive tax ever suggested for Hawaii.
"It would raise $100 million a year. It is a tax, not care. It is ill conceived, and it won't work," he says.
"Long-term care is a serious issue. I took care of both of my parents as they were dying, but this won't work," he says.
Meanwhile, the governor, who said he would sign such a bill if the Legislature approves it, waded into the debate, sending off an e-mail to selected legislators after Republican Sen. Fred Hemmings attacked Mrs. Cayetano's bill.
Gov. Ben Cayetano said Hemmings should come up with proof, as he contended that the program could better be handled by a private insurance company.
"And while you are at it, include senior citizens of all income groups -- not just the middle income and rich who make up the bulk of your constituents and political party," Cayetano snapped at Hemmings, who represents Kailua and Waimanalo.
Full-blown plans such as the Cayetano long-term care suggestion raise questions that Vicky Cayetano might also be thinking about her own political career, after her husband leaves office in December.
"It is the Hillary Clinton syndrome," says Hanabusa. But she doubts that Vicky Cayetano will be able to easily translate her hard work at the Legislature into a political career.
"It is my sense it would be difficult for her," Hanabusa said.
Although she has previously said she would be interested in running for office, Vicky Cayetano right now demurs.
"I am just not a politician. I have no patience for it," she says.
Impatience, however, may not be a flaw for a hard-charging, results-oriented woman looking for a new career.
Richard Borreca writes on politics every Sunday in the Star-Bulletin.
He can be reached at 525-8630 or by e-mail at rborreca@starbulletin.com.
