Panels lauded on Gov. Ben Cayetano praised legislative conference committee members yesterday for coming to agreement on what he termed the most positive reform package for Hawaii in recent years, and urged the full Legislature to approve the package this week.
gas, health, election bills
Gov. Cayetano urges the full
Legislature to pass the measuresStar-Bulletin staff
On Friday, committees approved measures that would set a cap on gas prices, provide oversight on health insurance rates, implement a major campaign finance reform package, provide discounts on prescription drugs for those without drug coverage and offer mandatory substance abuse treatment rather than incarceration for first-time, nonviolent drug offenders.
"This landmark legislation ensures a level and fair playing field, which can only improve Hawaii's desirability as a place to live and do business," Cayetano said. "If this package is approved by the full body, the session will be remembered as very productive."
However, two senators from the gas price regulation committee said that putting a cap on gas prices could hurt local businesses.
Sen. Fred Hemmings (R, Kailua-Waimanalo) said regulating gas prices was ludicrous, and criticized the reform package in general.
"Rather than creating a more fertile, productive and competitive environment, state government has driven away competition and taxed and regulated many of Hawaii's businesses to the brink of extinction," he said.
Sen. Cal Kawamoto (D, Waipahu-Pearl City) also voted against the gas price cap because the profit margin threatens smaller gas station owners, particularly on the neighbor islands, and could lead to a monopoly by large gas companies who would use the cap as a floor rather than a ceiling.
He also objected to the addition of another committee member on the final day the committee met to "swing the vote," a move he called "petty politics."
According to Cayetano, the state's lawsuit against oil companies proved that Hawaii drivers pay the highest gas prices in the nation and the suppliers here reap far higher profits than those on the mainland.
"This legislation will give oil companies a fair profit and give consumers a reasonable price on a tank of gas," he said.
Kawamoto agreed with Cayetano in his praise of the campaign finance reform package, a measure the senator had initially opposed.
"What we turned out was a good bill and was handled even-handedly," he said.
The campaign finance reform package, which restricts donations to political campaigns from corporations, unions and contractors doing government work, will be welcomed by voters who want to see politics cleaned up, Cayetano said. The package "will help raise confidence in the system."
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