Superferry Session is pau. It was quick and painful, like ripping off a band-aid. Now, some more real work begins. The regular session of 2008 comes in January, which means legislators have only a few weeks of productive time in 2007 to prepare. Successful sessions usually come from a combination of political pressure to deliver, strong leadership, focus, and advance planning. Here’s my recipe for success:

Talk about the goals on the front end

The first thing to remember is that it’s the Legislature’s session, not the media’s–and people expect to hear about the goals up front. Everyone knows that the legislative process is complicated and difficult, so there’s no need to promise the world, but it’s still critical to say what you want to do, and then do it. The days of quietly doing your business and expecting the public to hear about it through the coconut wireless are mostly gone. In the age of the communications phenomenon that is Linda Lingle, Democrats in the Legislature must explain what they are doing and why.

If another van-cam type issue comes up, dispense with it decisively

Every couple of years, a sensational but unimportant matter distracts everyone–including the media and the public–from the real work that has to get done. The worst offender was the ‘van cams,’ an automated traffic-ticket system that made profit for a small company and gave fits to civil libertarians and drivers. It took us more than two months to admit the program was a failure and repeal it. The issue occupied most of the 2002 session, at the expense of working on the state budget, public education and housing. These issues follow a pattern–they’re simple and easy to cover, they make people angry and they can be fixed in about 48 hours once the political will is mustered. If something like this bubbles up, solve it at the start, and get down to the people’s business right away. Everyone will be surprised and refreshed.

Avoid superobsession

The Superferry war isn’t over until a series of court rulings are made, but for legislative purposes, it’s done, and the vote wasn’t close. As the battle rages on elsewhere, it shouldn’t occupy the energy of the Legislature. This will take discipline because both sides are still fighting mad. But it’s no longer in the Legislature’s hands. One more caution on this issue: The majority of the general public wanted the Superferry, and they were willing to carve an exemption in our environmental laws to let it happen. But they do not want this to become a habit, and they do not want weaker laws.

Get focused on supersustainability not the Superferry

The most important environmental issues are our ability to generate our own energy and food, the resilience and diversity of our economy and the health of our forests, reefs and other natural areas. Senator Russell Kokobun and others have made a productive start by launching the Hawai’i Sustainability 2050 efforts. Focusing on long-term environmental issues, and not project-based battles, where the pitch is shrill and the stakes are high, gives us a better chance for progress. And although the word sustainability is becoming cliche to some, it’s a concept that must guide what we plan, how we live, and what we pass on, especially in an island state.

Don’t dredge up old battles

The gas cap. Former DLNR Director Peter Young. Hokulia. There are a bunch of†battles that are, in a word, old. They were important at the time, but to have the same fight over and over again is exasperating and unproductive, and gives critics an easy way to define the work of the Legislature. If the Legislature wants to have a banner year, it has to do a few things, do them well and focus on the future.

Quote

‘The kids blew those numbers away. That’s why we’re celebrating their success. … They tripled their math scores, and they doubled their reading, and the reading was already high, so we’re proud.’

Gail Awakuni, The Campbell High School principal made the statement after losing a bet with her students that she would die her hair orange if they met the math and reading goals set by the No Child Left Behind Act. (KHNL)

Factoid

3

The number of high-profile college football players, including UH quarterback Colt Brennan, who sustained a concussion, as well as other injuries from helmet collisions, on the same day the NFL told officials to begin cracking down on flagrant helmet-to-helmet hits. (New York Times)

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