Abortion issue returns
as state GOP
meets in Waikiki

At least 1 legislator opposes the
party's moderate platform

---

By Richard Borreca
rborreca@starbulletin.com

Hawaii's Republicans move into Waikiki this weekend for the annual state convention, hoping to solidify their ranks for the fall elections.

Party leaders, meeting at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel, are aiming to elect Linda Lingle governor and the 10 more Republicans needed to give them a majority in the state House.

But first the GOP has to debate the issue of abortion.

Two years ago, Lingle, as the newly elected party chairwoman, was able to recommend a more moderate platform that included a phrase moving the party away from an anti-abortion position.

The platform states that the GOP supports "the right, as determined by the courts, of every woman to make her own decision regarding abortion, but we oppose partial-birth abortion."

But yesterday in a platform meeting, two GOP state representatives split over the abortion plank.

Rep. Mindy Jaffe (R, Diamond Head), who favors abortion rights, as does Lingle, said it would be better to keep the platform intact.

"I am a real practical person. This language in our 2000 platform seemed to help us out. This works. Let's not fix what ain't broke," she said.

But Rep. Mark Moses (R, Kunia), who is anti-abortion, said he is losing votes.

"I talked to the Right to Life people, I talked to the Alliance for Traditional Marriage people and I talked to the Christian Coalition, and we are losing votes because of this plank.

"Some have said they would vote for a Christian religious Democrat because of this plank," Moses said.

Yesterday, Micah Kane, GOP chairman, said the abortion debate "happens every year," but he does worry about the issue.

"We definitely don't want to be divided on the issues. What we do believe is, we are going to respect the direction set forth by the court," Kane said.

---

Legislature Directory

Legislature Bills & Hawaii Revised Statutes

Testimony by email: testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov
Include in the email the committee name; bill number;
date, time and place of the hearing; and number of copies
(as listed on the hearing notice.) For more information,
see http://www.hawaii.gov/lrb/par
or call 587-0478.