Gov. Linda Lingle is worried that the civil union bill now awaiting action in the state Senate will be so controversial, it should be put off until 2011. “;They should not continue to discuss it this year. It is certainly something they could discuss in some future years. In the middle of the biggest economic crisis in Hawaii's history, it is a most inappropriate bill to take up this year,”; Lingle said in a meeting with reporters yesterday.

“;They should just put it on the side.”;

The Legislature reconvenes Jan. 20.

Asked what she thought about the issue of civil unions or gay marriage, Lingle said: “;My thought is they should not discuss it. I don't want to discuss it. I want to discuss job creation.”;

Legislative leaders note that House Bill 444 passed the House, was amended in the Senate and is awaiting a vote before being sent back to the House.

“;It should be voted on at some time as soon as possible,”; said Sen. Brian Taniguchi, Judiciary Committee chairman.

House Speaker Calvin Say added that while he agreed with Lingle that the Legislature should devote its time to ways to improve Hawaii's economy, the civil union bill was still an issue.

“;I truly believe the budget and the economy is the No. 1 priority, but I can also understand the advocates who want to get something done,”; Say said.

But the civil union bill is still controversial, said Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu, House Judiciary Committee chairman. Organizations on both sides of the issue are “;pressuring individuals that their campaigns would be at risk, so that is bothering some of our members,”; he said.

On another legislative issue, Lingle was asked about the proposal that counties be given the authority to charge a sales tax or collect taxes besides property tax.

Lingle said she is against any tax increase, but because she is in favor of home rule, she thought the issue should be handled by the county government, not the state.

“;I think the counties have developed to a point where they should be given more authority, on taxation, on water use and land use,”; Lingle said.

“;I would support giving them the authority and giving it to the other counties, as well,”; she said.