Tell us who are cowards, Mr. Say

A (legislative) House of cowards? Could it be so? Calvin Say says no. So, surely, it couldn't be.

But if not, how should we explain the state House's decision to shelve, indefinitely, civil unions legislation? What, other than fear of reactionary revenge, could have motivated our legislators to evade this issue in an election year? What, other than fear, could have moved them to do so by an “;anonymous”; vote? What, other than fear of a backlash, could find our legislators willing to accept—even temporarily—that discrimination against “;some people”; is constitutionally acceptable?

Equal protection—of religion, among other freedoms—means precisely and unequivocally that. According to constitutional law, theologically based and/or discriminatory dogma (doctrine, if one prefers the nicety) must yield to equitable governance—no matter the consequence. Our legislators are obliged to uphold this principle, no matter the consequence.

Say avers, “;We are not all cowards.”; In the interest of transparency, then, Mr. Say, precisely who are, and precisely who aren't?

HB 444 vote would have been futile

As House speaker, the responsibility for the House's indefinite postponement of House Bill 444 rests with me.

My recommendation to postpone was personally painful since I support civil unions for same-sex couples.

Last Friday, it was questionable whether the bill had enough votes to pass. At most, it may have had the support of 27 of the 51 House members. It was very clear, however, that the bill was not supported by 34 members, the threshold necessary to override a veto.

I believed that the governor would have vetoed the bill. My belief was based on the lieutenant governor's influence, the governor's subtle message to focus on other issues, and the attorney general's concern about a flaw in the bill (this session, for reasons unknown to me, the Senate rejected by a 15 to 10 vote an amendment to correct the flaw).

Consequently, I did not feel that the House should take a vote to pass HB 444. Even if the vote were successful, that action would have been futile since the probable veto would have stood.

State reps unable to multi-task?

The governor unadroitly sidestepped the House's reluctance to go on record by stating, “;I'm glad they can stay focused on the economy.”; Apparently the pols cannot walk and chew gum at the same time.

Openness added to isle's rail recipe

Recipe for mixing pineapples and macadamia nuts of Hawaii nei:

» Gather 10 tons of Hawaii pineapples and 10 tons of Hawaii macadamia nuts grown in the football-size fields of open sunshine in Hawaii Nei.

» Cut pineapples into clear segments proportionate to logic and reason.

» Saw shiny, polished nuts to get to the meat beyond the glossy shell.

» Layer the sunshine-grown sweet pineapple segments with the opened nuts.

» Blend a meringue of truth, fiscal responsibility, affordability and environmental quality as the final topping over the substantive pineapple and macadamia nut meat of the issue, poured over the crusty cold political promotion and propaganda.

Suddenly we have the Governor's Sunshine-Grown Pineapple, Macadamia Nut and Truth Meringue pie molded in the light of open government. How sweet it is.

(Editor's note: This letter ran yesterday with an inaccurate headline.)