With the organization of the state Legislature to be completed today, state lawmakers and Gov.-elect Linda Lingle say they hope to work well together when the session starts in exactly two months. Legislators hope to
work well with Lingle
Commerce, public safety and tax directors sought
By Pat Omandam
pomandam@starbulletin.com"We're excited to see what kind of proposals she's going to put on the table. We want to have good dialogue with her," said Scott Saiki (D, Moiliili), new House majority leader.
"What I'd like to do is for our leadership and the House leadership to talk to Miss Lingle about what she expects from the Legislature and just sit down and try to work things together," said Robert Bunda (D, Wahiawa), Senate president.
Lingle said this week that after 20 years in Hawaii politics, she has personal relationships with legislators in both parties.
She hopes the Democratic-controlled Legislature will be cooperative and collaborative with her Republican state administration.
"I think legislators themselves understand that the public has taken a very strong position in wanting to see some change, and they'll have to respond to that," said Lingle, who is attending conferences on the mainland and returns next weekend.
The state Senate majority and minority groups finalized their leadership and committee assignments on Wednesday. Bunda returns as Senate president while Donna Kim (D, Nuuanu) becomes vice president.
Fred Hemmings (R, Waimanalo) now leads the five-member Senate GOP.
He said Republicans are aware of their new role in the legislative process with Lingle as governor.
"In the past we were relegated to being the loyal opposition," Hemmings said. "We are looking to work constructively with the majority party as proponents rather than opponents."
The 36-member state House majority completed its organization yesterday, with Calvin Say (D, Palolo) and Sylvia Luke (D, Pacific Heights) returning as House speaker and vice speaker, respectively.
There were a few changes in the composition of the House from last year. Most notable is Marcus Oshiro's (D, Wahiawa) departure as majority leader to head the House Labor Committee, a position Saiki held last year.
Other changes include the selection of Brian Schatz (D, Tantalus) as chairman of the Economic Development Committee and Mark Takai (D, Newtown), a former student body president at the University of Hawaii, as head of the Higher Education Committee.
Also, Ken Ito (D, Haiku Valley) replaces newly elected City Councilman Nestor Garcia as head of the Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee.
Luke said even with a significant number of freshman representatives, there was a strong commitment to keep intact the current leadership group.
"We had some excellent discussion with regard to the directions we want to see Hawaii move in the coming years, and there was strong support for the job we did in recent sessions," Luke said.
The 15-member Republican House minority is expected to finalize its organization today. Galen Fox (R, Waikiki) is expected to return as House minority leader.
State of Hawaii
