With which piece of 2010 legislation are you most proud to be affiliated?
- An off-season
- What was your biggest accomplishment this session?
- With which piece of 2010 legislation are you most proud to be affiliated?
- What was the biggest disappointment of the session and how might a similar disappointment be prevented in the future?
- What percentage of State lawmakers do you believe would have made all of the same decisions this session, were it not an election year?
“I am proud to have introduced SB 2646 (Hawaii Surfing Reserves) which was unanimously passed in the Senate but killed by petty partisan House members the last day of the session.”
–Sen. Fred Hemmings (R-25th District)
“I am proud to have supported the civil unions bill. I believe the legal civil rights, benefits, protections and responsibilities that married couples have should be provided to committed gay and lesbian couples and families, and should also be an option for heterosexual couples. I hope the governor will decide that this discrimination against same-sex couples can no longer be justified.”
–Sen. Les Ihara (D-9th District)
“On Saturday, April 24, 2010, Gov. Lingle signed into law SB 2163 … Relating to the practice of nursing. I introduced the companion bill in the House. The passage of this bill is great for nursing; it will change the profession and practice for many years to come.”
–Rep. Marilyn Lee (D-38th District)
“We got the recreational drug, Salvia A and Salvia Divinorum on the List of Controlled Substances. Also we got funds in the budget to repair the Chapel on the Kapiolani Community College campus.”
–Rep. Barbara C. Marumoto (R- 19th District)
“Two bills come immediately to mind. One bill is symbolic of the House’s willingness to move quickly to resolve an immediate problem. The other bill displays the House’s foresight and willingness to make responsible, difficult decisions to mitigate a longterm problem in the face of much opposition. The first is House Bill 2169, which revises the unemployment insurance contribution schedule to limit the increase in employers’ contributions caused by the economic downturn and greater unemployment … The second is House Bill 2421, the “barrel tax bill.” The bill increases the tax on each barrel of petroleum product to $1.05 from five cents. Forty percent of the additional revenues are dedicated to renewable energy and food security programs. Sixty percent is deposited into the general fund, and may be used to fund the operations of the Department of Agriculture and offset the tax loss from the renewable energy systems income tax credit … An average driver may have to pay about $15 a year more for gas, and an average family may have to pay about $9.36 more for electricity. These costs, however, are worth the longterm benefits that should result from HB 2421. The bill should be regarded as an investment in the future of Hawaii.”
–Speaker Calvin Say (D-20th District)
“In addition to my involvement and commitment in helping to pass HB 444 in the Senate this session … I am proud of my action in calling for an end to school furloughs. I was the first to call for the use of existing special funds to resolve the issue.”
–Sen. Gary Hooser (D-7th District)
“The Barrel Tax. Landmark legislation that adds $1 on a 42-gallon barrel of imported oil to support renewable energy development and support more local farmers, increase use of photovoltaic and solar systems, environmental protection programs and agricultural inspectors. It means drivers may pay about 2.5 cents more per gallon or about $15 more per year. And, households with $150 a month electricity bills will pay about $10 more per year or about 85 cents a month. Compare that to the estimated $8 billion we send out of state for imported fuel and food each year or about $8,000 per Hawaii resident. Helps keep more dollars within the state and strengthen the local economy.”
–Rep. Marcus Oshiro (D-39th District)
“Balancing the budget without an increase in the [General Excise Tax].”
–Rep. Robert Herkes (D-5th District)
“I am proud of my support for SB 2213, which would have established ‘compassion centers’ to assist Hawaii patients who have been prescribed medical marijuana. It gave the state and counties an opportunity to look beyond some preconceived notions and put the welfare of patients in need ahead of outmoded attitudes.”
–Sen. J. Kalani English (D-6th District)
“I introduced SB 2473, legislation that will allow for seniors who reside in elderly housing projects to care for their grandchildren in crisis for a temporary period of time (three months) rather than being immediately evicted. These kupuna are caring for their families while saving the state a substantial amount of money by ensuring the children do not enter into the foster care system. And it seems almost criminal to make them homeless because of their devotion to the family unit.”
–Sen. Brickwood Galuteria (D-12th District)
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