Democrats reorganize in Senate

By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer

State Sen. Robert Bunda was re-elected Senate President yesterday as all 20 Democrats in the upper house agreed to a reorganization in which almost all members of the caucus were named either to head committees or to leadership positions in the Democratic majority.

State Sen. Robert Bunda stays as Senate President. Advertiser library photo

The Democrats will caucus at 10:30 a.m. today and the leadership will hold a press conference at 11 a.m. to talk about the outlook for legislative activity under the administration of Republican Gov.-elect Linda Lingle.

Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, vice president last session, moved to majority leader, succeeding Sen. Cal Kawamoto, who moved to the majority floor leader position formerly held by Sen. J. Kalani English.

Freshman Sen. Shan Tsutsui of Maui emerged as majority caucus leader, a new position.

Leaders said the caucus reached unanimous agreement, in contrast to previous years.

Formerly separate Hawaiian Affairs was merged into the Judiciary Committee, while Human Services and Health, deluged with bills each session, was separated into two committees.

Tourism will stand alone as a committee, with Intergovernmental Relations moving to Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations, chaired again by Kawamoto.

The shuffle saw English moved to chairman of the new Energy and Environment Committee, split off from Water and Land.

Manoa Sen. Brian Taniguchi remained in charge of the purse strings as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, with Big Island Sen. Russell Kokubun replacing Hanabusa as vice chair there.

Hanabusa will chair the new Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee, with Sen. Suzanne Chun serving as vice chair, a position formerly held by David Matsuura, who did not return to office.

Sen. Ron Menor was placed in charge of the Consumer Protection and Housing Committee again, with Maui Sen. Roz Baker as his vice chair, a position formerly held by Matt Matsunaga.

Chun was given chairmanship of the Human Services Committee, while Education will be chaired again by Sen. Norman Sakamoto. Sen. Lorraine Inouye was named to lead the Water, Land and Agriculture Committee again, while Sen. Brian Kanno gives up the Judiciary chairmanship to head the Labor Committee.

Economic Development, formerly headed by Rod Tam, will be a separate committee under Sen. Carol Fukunaga, with Technology moved to an expanded Science, Arts and Technology Committee under the chairmanship of Sen. David Ige.

The changes are intended to deal with an anticipated emphasis on business issues in the upcoming legislative session.

Sen. Donna Kim will chair the newly independent Tourism Committee, and Baker will head up the Health Committee.

Reach Walter Wright at wwright@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8054.