‘Queen Linda’ bill called
environmental threat

The proposal would allow Lingle
to waive state laws to quickly
build training facilities

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By Pat Omandam
pomandam@starbulletin.com

Hawaii's environment could suffer if the Legislature allows Gov. Linda Lingle to waive state laws so that the military can quickly build training facilities during wartime, opponents of the proposal say.

Granting that authority would also undermine the system of checks and balances that limit abuses of power, said Kyle Kajihiro, program director of the American Friends Services Committee-Hawaii.

"No government official should have the authority to waive state laws by decree," said Kajihiro, who added the military has not been held accountable for the environmental and social impacts of its actions.

Kajihiro was among those who testified yesterday against House Bill 938 before the House Public Safety Committee.

The so-called "Queen Linda" bill allows the governor to suspend all laws pertaining to construction of military training facilities if the governor deems it as reasonably necessary for state security.

The measure was introduced by House Speaker Calvin Say (D, Palolo) to help stimulate the state economy if the United States goes to war with Iraq. Say said if the economy slows because of war, as it did during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, the only industries where Hawaii could see growth are in defense and transportation.

Say said he wanted to have such measures readily available to the governor.

The idea came from the "King Ben" bill -- granted in a special legislative session shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists attacks -- which gave former Gov. Ben Cayetano special powers to help the state economy.

Lingle has said she does not think the measure is necessary.

The committee approved and forwarded the measure to the Energy and Environmental Protection hearing after it added a drop-dead date of June 30, 2004.

Bill opponent June Shimokawa said it is shortsighted and irresponsible to tout the creation of jobs as a fair exchange for these exemptions. She said she worries about the long-lasting impacts such waivers would have on Hawaii residents and the environment.

"The history of the Pacific is replete with evidence of how the U.S. military, in the name of security of the state, has not only appropriated lands in the name of security of the state, but had plundered the lands and left its people hostage to illness and poverty," Shimokawa said.

But Bill Paty, the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii's military affairs council emeritus chairman, said in his written testimony that the importance of military training areas cannot be overemphasized.

It is imperative that suitable areas are made available to prepare troops under various combat conditions, he said.

"The military units positioned in Hawaii are potential first-responders to armed conflicts anywhere in the world," Paty said.