[ OUR OPINION ]
Democrats react
shamefully to
two-party system
THE ISSUE
The Legislature is considering a number of bills that would reduce the authority of the executive branch.
PARTISAN opposition by the Democratic Legislature to Governor Lingle has degenerated into a disgraceful effort to obstruct the Republican administration. The rejection of Lingle's nomination of Ted Hong to be a circuit judge on the Big Island is the most glaring example of the polarization, but insidious attempts to undermine her authority are numerous, exposing Democrats' dismay at the prospect of an end to decades of one-party rule.
CORRECTION
Wednesday, March 17, 2003>> An editorial on Page A10 in yesterday's early edition incorrectly stated that Senate President Robert Bunda voted against confirmation of Ted Hong to be a circuit judge on the Big Island. Bunda voted for confirmation.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.Hong, who has extensive experience in the city prosecutor's office and the city and Big Island corporation counsels' offices and as a private attorney, was highly qualified for the bench. He was among six lawyers the Judicial Selection Commission submitted to Lingle as qualified to fill the judicial vacancy.
Five of the state Senate's six lawyers, including Judiciary Chairwoman Colleen Hanabusa, voted to confirm Hong to the post, but 13 Democrats voted against his confirmation, resulting in his defeat by a single vote. Their explanation that Hong lacked the temperament to be a judge was dishonest.
In addition, the Legislature is poised to approve bills that would require legislative approval of certain fund transfers by the governor, inject the Legislature in the selection -- not just the confirmation -- of University of Hawaii regents, block the governor from selling or exchanging public lands without the Legislature's approval and transfer management of the Capitol from the executive branch to a House and Senate joint committee.
The House even gave preliminary approval to a proposed constitutional amendment that would have deprived Lingle of the line-item veto of any education appropriation. The proposal was abandoned only after the state budget and finance director pointed out that such an erosion of authority could cause Hawaii's bond rating to drop, resulting in higher interest rates when the state borrows money.
Republican Sen. Sam Slom says the power grab resulted from the Democrats being stunned by the 2002 election of Lingle, the first Republican in 40 years to be elected governor. Democrats, he said, "understand the power and influence a governor has ... and some of them don't believe it happened." Senate Republicans have flagged nine bills that are "attempts at eroding the powers of the executive branch."
Senate President Robert Bunda, who voted against Hong's confirmation, says the adversarial relationship between Democratic legislators and Lingle is "a little more pronounced" when "the governor is making those assertions about Democrats and is challenging the Democrats to a duel in the next election." If Bunda and other Democrats were to observe other state governments they would begin to realize that is one of the characteristics of a two-party system. They should get used to it.
