Promised vetoes color
Legislature’s last weeks

Majority Democrats in the state Legislature are taking a wait-and-see approach before declaring whether they would override any vetoes being promised by Gov. Linda Lingle.

Among the measures to watch, according to one political analyst, are the so-called "power grab" initiatives that try to limit the authority of the Governor's Office and some state agencies.

Those include a proposal that would require the administration to hold public hearings when deciding whether to restrict funds allocated by the Legislature.

"That one, if it passes and she vetoes them (and it's overridden), that's really playing hardball," said Neal Milner, a University of Hawaii political scientist. "That says they're really saying they want to make changes in the way the state operates.

"That, to me, is a real escalation of the political struggle between the governor and the Legislature, because it really does mean they're willing to take it a step beyond where they have before."

Lingle has said she would veto "not all, but most" of the bills targeting her administration.

Other measures still alive include proposals to:

» Limit the rule-making authority of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

» Require the Department of Human Services to gain legislative approval before spending federal dollars allocated under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

» Extend the terms for appointees to various boards and commissions, including the University of Hawaii Board of Regents and the Hawaii Labor Relations Board.

Lawmakers will spend the next two weeks coming up with the final versions of all bills they plan to submit to Lingle for her consideration.

A two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate would be needed to override any veto.

Democrats outnumber Republicans 4-to-1 in both chambers, but leaders say it is too early to start planning an override strategy.

"If we have the two-thirds to come back (in special session), we'll address all of those bills that were vetoed," said House Speaker Calvin Say (D, St. Louis Heights-Wilhelmina Rise).

Though Democrats have overridden 13 of the governor's vetoes in the past two years, Say said he feels the tenor of this year's session has been more "collegial" than in the past.

"Sometimes you have this personal bickering and infighting, but overall the cooperation has been very positive compared to the past two years," Say said. "I know for a fact that the governor really wants some of her bills to pass this session in anticipation for the upcoming elections, and that's where she's been much more open in having the departments come down and meet with (Democratic leadership)."

At least one GOP House leader said she believes Democrats also are passing legislation with next year's elections in mind.

"I think a lot of them are actually being set up for her to veto," said Minority Floor Leader Colleen Meyer (R, Laie-Kahaluu). She specifically cited bills being pushed by labor unions, including a proposal to raise the minimum wage in Hawaii.

"They're setting the trap: Republicans don't care about the working poor, but we do and look what the governor vetoed," Meyer said. "I see that they can be setting this up in the big picture, forcing her to veto a certain amount of these and then using that against her."