Major test faces our Legislature

By Jerry Burris
Advertiser Editorial Editor

While it has had its ups and downs, the general trend of the Hawai'i Legislature in the past several years has not been good.

Far too often distracted by side issues such as same-sex marriage or perplexed by problems beyond its reach such as the global economic slowdown, the Hawai'i Legislature has had trouble finding traction.

Individual lawmakers have performed well and a fair amount of sound and useful legislation has been written. But there is no sense that this important policy-making body is moving forward on a coherent, relatively unified track.

Instead, there is reaction and gamesmanship as the two houses and the two parties look for whatever small advantage they can gain on whatever small issue is before them.

To some degree, all this was inevitable. People like to reminisce about the "great" legislatures of the post-statehood era, where an entirely new state government structure had to be built. Sweeping reforms of the state's social structure, its education system, its land use and environmental systems all had to be put in place.

There were disagreements, of course. And no shortage of political infighting. But there was general agreement on broad goals for the state and on the importance of the work at hand.

That stage of business is now largely complete. What has been before us in recent years are the smaller things: tinkering with systems already in place, improving or dismantling as the need arises.

This is not the stuff of high drama. And it leaves a vacuum in which pettiness finds a home.

As the Legislature prepares for tomorrow's special session, all of that may be about to change. There is no question that the issues facing lawmakers this week and for some time to come are as large, as important, as the issues that confronted the Legislature in the immediate post-statehood years.

The question is: Is the current crop of legislators up to the challenge?

There is no shortage of talent among the 76 men and women currently serving. In many ways, they are smarter and better informed than the generation before them. They also have access to a universe of information and technology that could not even be imagined a couple of decades ago.

In short, they have the horsepower. Will they have the will to use that horsepower for the greater advantage of the state of Hawai'i and its citizens?

Will they be able to pave over the divide that exists between House and Senate, between controlling factions and dissident factions, between Democrats and Republicans?

This doesn't mean the Legislature should be a rubber stamp for ideas put forward by the governor. Nor does it mean the various minorities should be steamrolled by the majority block. There's no such thing as a bad idea at this moment.

If you think about it, in fact, the current Legislature has been presented with a tremendous opportunity. At a time of great difficulty, it is being asked to show leadership and vision.

Is it up to the test?

You can reach Jerry Burris through letters@honoluluadvertiser.com.