Posted on: Friday, December 7, 2001

Chairwoman resigns from House post

By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Capitol Bureau Chief

Yoshinaga: Was in charge of labor panel

State Rep. Terry Nui Yoshinaga has resigned her post as chairwoman of the House Labor and Public Employment Committee, a position she held for three years.

Yoshinaga, D-22nd (Mo'ili'ili, McCully, Pawa'a), declined to discuss the unusual move, saying she was busy with other matters.

In a letter to Speaker Calvin Say last week, Yoshinaga said "it is with great sorrow" that she was asking to be replaced as labor chairwoman.

The letter did not explain her decision. Yoshinaga wrote that "based on the policies and protocol in the House, I feel I must act upon my conscience at this time."

Lawmakers routinely shuffle the leadership positions after each election, but it is rare for a representative to simply step down from a leadership job shortly before a new session begins.

Yoshinaga parted company with House Democrats on several occasions this year, most recently when she voted against a bill last month to give the governor expanded powers during economic emergencies. House Democrats also pushed her to the sidelines last spring as members of the two chambers negotiated agreements on issues critical to public employees.