Hawaii lawmakers have killed proposals dealing with casinos, medical marijuana, cockfighting, flag-flying, foie gras and civil unions.

About all that is left during the remaining four weeks of this year's legislative session are measures raising taxes and balancing the state budget.

The Legislature's Democratic leadership came into this year with a goal of focusing on the state's money issues and scuttling proposals that have been criticized as diversions.

“;Thus far we've kept our eye on the ball and not been too distracted,”; said House Majority Leader Blake Oshiro (D, Aiea-Halawa). “;We never want to see those issues taking up too much energy away from what should be the primary focus.”;

All of these controversial, issue-focused pieces of legislation got hearings and took countless hours of attention.

But one by one, they were shot down—in some cases, not quickly enough for Gov. Linda Lingle.

“;They have spent much too much time on things like cockfighting and marijuana stores and other issues that might be important to a small number of people,”; the Republican governor said Thursday on PBS Hawaii's “;Island Insights”; show. “;It's not to say they are not important, but a leader has to say, 'You know what, we're going through the worst fiscal crisis in state history, our economy needs to be rebuilt, we just can't take up cockfighting right now.'”;

There are several reasons why so few of the proposals to change island society's rules haven't advanced.

Any measure that costs money never stood much of a chance as the state is dealing with a projected $1.3 billion budget shortfall through June of next year. Also, it's an election year, and legislators don't want to stake out risky positions with their jobs on the line in November.

Businesses and Lingle have said the Legislature should have worked harder to stimulate the economy and create jobs.

“;They're focusing on the wrong things,”; said Geal Talbert, an independent financial planner who runs Legacy Group Wealth Management in Kaneohe. “;What are they doing to cut expenses? That would be as beneficial and as effective as raising taxes.”;

Lawmakers counter that they've already cut the costs of government to the bone, and now they're just trying to make ends meet.

The biggest tax hike proposal—an increase in the state's general excise tax paid on nearly every transaction—appears to be dead.

But lawmakers are still considering a jump in estate taxes, caps on itemized deductions, a suspension of high-tech tax credits, a rise in oil taxes and a raid on counties' hotel tax money.

Labor unions and advocates for the needy claim government services already have been cut too far, and they're urging elected representatives and senators to raise taxes even higher.

The poor, elderly and disabled are already suffering from a planned closure in welfare offices, more stringent adult mental health eligibility requirements and cuts to services for abused children, said Alex Santiago, executive director of PHOCUSED, a consortium of nonprofits.

“;These are the kinds of things that have flown under the radar,”; he said. “;The impacts won't be seen until something horrendous occurs.”;

One significant law passed by the Legislature and signed by Lingle last month grants businesses relief from a scheduled increase in unemployment taxes. The new law saves businesses an average of $440 per employee compared to what they would have paid if the full increase had gone into effect. But they'll still have to pay $540 more than the $90 paid per employee last year.

A few of the measures still alive deal with raising fines on people who feed sharks, updating campaign finance laws and giving counties the right to ban fireworks.

“;We always have these distractions,”; said Sen. Sam Slom (R, Diamond Head-Hawaii Kai). “;From my standpoint, it's great when they don't get passed. It's a good thing that government isn't meddling so much.”;