State lawmakers return to session this week to draft a two-year budget and cope with issues such as privatization and public worker pay increases. Spirited debates are likely on almost every issue as the newly reinforced House and Senate Republicans challenge the ruling Democrats. The Advertiser polled all 76 state lawmakers to learn their views on a variety of issues, from minimum wage and gambling to plans to close the Ala Wai Golf Course. This survey is intended as a “snapshot” of legislators’ views as they begin the session. It offers clues about the directions your senators and representatives may be headed while there is still time to do something about it. A number of legislators pointed out that they were stating very general positions on complex issues without the benefit of hearing testimony on each subject. They said their views may shift if they hear compelling new arguments. Nineteen of the House’s 51 seats are held by Republicans, and three seats in the 25-member Senate are held by Republicans. The Legislature will open its 60-day session on Wednesday, Jan. 17, and is scheduled to adjourn May 3. How the survey was conducted In mid-November, The Advertiser gave legislators a one-page questionnaire asking them to check off whether they supported or opposed each proposal. Those who missed the Dec. 6 deadline to return the survey were contacted and given additional opportunities to respond. A follow-up question on banning fireworks was distributed Jan. 11 and Jan.12, and lawmakers were given until Jan. 13 to respond to that single question. Most lawmakers responded to the survey this year. Of the 76 lawmakers, seven senators and one representative did not respond or said they would not return the survey. Many lawmakers chose not to answer all questions, and some submitted written statements elaborating on their answers. Some refused to answer certain questions because they said their views on those issues could not be answered with simple "yes or no or "support or oppose" answers. House Responses Senate Responses Where key issues stand in the Legislature How to reach your representatives and senators

Survey Questions	Business/Taxes	Government	Crime	Other
	1. Should the state increase alcohol and tobacco taxes to pay for drug treatment programs? 2. Create a system of pay-at-the-pump auto insurance? 3. Raise the minimum wage? 4. Eliminate the excise tax on food and rent?	5. Rewrite campaign financing laws to provide for state election campaigns to be solely publicly financed? 6. Pay the raises that the Hawai‘i Government Employees Association won in arbitration this year? 7. Pay raises comparable to the HGEA raises to all public workers? 8. For newly hired public employees, end the practice of paying 100 percent of the cost of health coverage for retirees and their dependents? 9. Allow layoffs of public employees when government services are privatized?	10. Authorize a privately operated prison in Hawai‘i? 11. Authorize a new state-operated prison in Hawai‘i? 12. Raise the age of consent for sex for juveniles from 14 years of age to 16?	13. Legalize casino gambling? 14. Legalize shipboard gambling? 15. Legalize a state lottery? 16. Change to elected county school boards? 17. Allow the governor to amend the executive order to convert the Ala Wai Golf Course into a park?

Survey Reponses Y=Yes, or Support; N=No, or Oppose; Blank=No Reponse or a reponse other than yes/support or no/oppose

Business/Taxes

Government

Crime

Other

Senate Members

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

Jan Yagi Buen D – W. Maui-Molokai-Lanai

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Robert Bunda D – Wahiawa-Waialua-Sunset Beach

Y

Y

Y

Y

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Y

Y

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N

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Y

Y

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Y

Y

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Avery Chumbley D – E. Maui-N. Kauai

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

.

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

Y

Jonathan Chun D – S. Kauai-Niihau

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S. Chun Oakland D – Palama-Alewa Heights

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

N

N

N

N

N

Y

N

J. Kalani English D – Kahului-Upcountry Maui

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

Y

Carol Fukunaga D – Makiki-Ala Moana-Tantalus

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

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Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

Colleen Hanabusa D – Barbers Point-Makaha

Y

N

Y

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Y

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N

N

N

N

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Fred Hemmings R – Kailua-Waimanalo

N

Y

N

Y

N

Y

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Y

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Y

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Y

N

N

N

Y

Y

Bob Hogue R – Kaneohe-Kailua

N

N

N

Y

N

Y

N

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Y

Y

Y

N

N

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Y

N

David Ige D – Pacific Palisades-Pearl City

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Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

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Les Ihara Jr. D – Waikiki-Kaimuki

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Y

Y

Y

Y

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Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

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Lorraine Inouye D – Hawi-N. Kona-Waimea

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

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Y

Y

Y

N

N

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Y

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Brian Kanno D – Ewa Beach-Makakilo-Kapolei

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N

Y

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Y

Y

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N

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N

N

N

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N

Cal Kawamoto D – Waipahu-Pearl City

N

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

N

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Donna Mercado Kim D – Kalihi Valley-Aiea

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

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Y

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N

Russell Kokubun D – Ka’u-Kona

Y

N

Y

N

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

N

N

Y

Matt Matsunaga D – Waialae-Palolo

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

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Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

David Matsuura D – S. Hilo-Puna

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Ron Menor D – Waipio Gentry-Wahiawa

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Y

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N

Y

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Y

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Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

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Bob Nakata D – Kaneohe-Kahuku

Y

N

Y

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Y

Y

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N

N

Y

N

N

N

N

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Norman Sakamoto D – Moanalua-Salt Lake

Y

N

N

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N

Y

N

Y

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Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

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Sam Slom R – Waialae Iki-Hawaii Kai

N

N

N

Y

N

Y

N

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

N

Rod Tam D – Nuuanu-Downtown-Sand Island

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Brian Taniguchi D – McCully-Moiliili-Manoa

Y

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Y

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Y

Y

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N

N

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N

N