Say proposes panel
to assess Hawaii’s
war-readiness

The House speaker says he is
concerned about energy supplies
and a drop in tourism

Health overhaul urged

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By Pat Omandam
pomandam@starbulletin.com

House Speaker Calvin Say is proposing a Committee on War Preparedness be formed to study what impact a war on Iraq would have on Hawaii.

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The panel of lawmakers and representatives from the military and utility companies in Hawaii would review the state's energy reserves and its military readiness, and consider what economic problems might surface if the United States were to launch a war on Iraq.

The committee would report back to the House within a month so lawmakers could take action this session instead of having to return in a special session.

A resolution calling for the formation of the committee is expected to be taken up today by the 51-member House.

Say (D, Palolo) said Hawaii needs to be prepared for the kinds of problems that occurred during the Gulf War in the early 1990s and again after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, when Hawaii tourism -- almost entirely dependent on air travel -- came to an abrupt stop.

"I truly feel its going to be a tremendous impact on the state, in the area of tourism, and even fostering the bankruptcies of some of our national airlines because we are at war," Say said yesterday after his announcement on the House floor. "Also, the fact that we are looking at some other issues, such as our energy reserves, if we have the oil capable enough to sustain ourselves through this prolonged issue of war."

Say also introduced a bill, House Bill 938, that would give Gov. Linda Lingle authority to exempt the military from any state laws, rules or regulations that would hinder it from quickly building facilities on federal land that would be related to national security.

Say said that move, similar to emergency powers given to former Gov. Ben Cayetano in a special session following the 9/11 attacks, would be a way to help provide the state with economic stimulus, specifically from the federal Department of Defense, when tourism is down.

"Just like the 'King Ben' bill, this is a 'Queen Linda' bill," Say said.

Lingle could not be reached for comment on the measure.

But Senate President Robert Bunda (D, Wahiawa) noted the Senate is not represented on the committee, and maybe it should be.

"The only concern I would have from the Senate side would be that ... the Senate gets to deliberate on them rather than having pressure put by House members saying that it is an initiative from the private sector and we need to act on these bills," Bunda said.

Bunda said he expects today's State of the Union speech by President Bush will pave the way "for some kind of war action."

House Minority Leader Galen Fox (R, Waikiki) said Say's action may be premature, given that the president is still trying to find a resolution and the U.S. military will not be ready for the war until late February or early March.

Fox added that Gov. Lingle has been working on homeland security issues and should take the leadership role on it for the state.

"I guess I think that the speaker is just a little bit jumping the gun. I think, on the other hand, sooner or later we may well have to do it," he said.