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On Politics Richard Borreca |
Lingle’s team is
already on the fieldOne year ago, Linda Lingle's fledgling administration was puzzling out the phones and where to park at the state Capitol.
Most of the cabinet officers were new, and for veteran Capitol observers Lingle's crew might as well have been wearing "trainee" name badges.
Today, out of the spotlight, the key players in Governor Lingle's administration are knowledgeable enough to start planning now for the 2004 Legislature.
Linda Smith, Lingle's new senior policy adviser, explains that the cabinet is talking to legislators and community groups "to get their feedback at an early stage." In a rough form, the administration is already laying out the state's plans for the next year.
The administration, for instance, is mulling over doing something to address Hawaii's high gasoline prices, but so far hasn't come up with a bill to satisfy all groups. Also, Smith reports, there was a discussion about dedicating some of the state's Hurricane Relief Fund for a special fund to pay for damages caused by another hurricane, but it was decided to leave the money alone.
The administration also has given formal presentations to the GOP House and Senate caucus and talked with members of the Democratic majority leadership.
Attorney General Mark Bennett cautions that while none of his proposals to curb crime "are carved in stone," they are fairly detailed.
Lingle's AG is looking at a modified form of a three-strikes law to discourage repeat offenders and beef up the state wiretap law.
The proposal, Bennett says, is not a pure three-strikes law, but would increase the penalties for repeat offenders, especially for those found guilty of three misdemeanor property crimes.
He also is looking to increase penalties for repeat felony offenders and to strengthen penalties for bribery.
"It is our goal to get bipartisan support for the entire package," Bennett said.
Back in the days of Democratic governors, the ruling Democratic legislators also were briefed by the cabinet, but the practice fell off during the last years of former Gov. Ben Cayetano's term, according to veterans such as former House speaker Rep. Joe Souki.
"Waihee did it a lot. He had meetings with leadership and the Democrats," Souki said, referring to former Gov. John Waihee.
Souki didn't speculate about how successful Lingle would be with the new round of meetings, adding that much of the debate also could be handled in the Legislature's preliminary committee meetings.
Republican legislators have declined to talk on the record about the briefings, although it is expected that the House and Senate minority also will come up with its own package of bills to push next year.
What is certain is that Lingle, who likes to plan out 45 days in advance, is making sure that when her cabinet members come to the state Capitol next January they are not wearing "trainee" buttons.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Richard Borreca writes on politics every Sunday in the Star-Bulletin. He can be reached at 525-8630 or by e-mail at rborreca@starbulletin.com.
