EDITORIAL
State Senate off to a fast and solid start

The Hawai'i state Senate got off to an impressive — and speedy — start this week by organizing its leadership, committee structure and focus for the coming 2003 session.

If the work of the session can be accomplished as efficiently as the work of organization, then prospects for a productive year are high.

There is considerable speculation, of course, about how a Democratic-controlled Senate would work with the new Republican Lingle administration.

Our hope — our expectation, in fact — is that the two sides will recognize that the public's business trumps partisan gamesmanship at every turn.

No one wants the Senate to roll over and play dead for the Lingle administration. There is a reason the voters choose to keep a Democratic Senate and installed a Republican administration. What they are looking for is a contest of ideas, with the best (or combination of the best) prevailing.

Of particular importance in the 2003 session will be a raft of appointments that will come before the Senate for approval. This is the first place where partisanship should take a back seat.

The Senate has an obligation to ensure the names submitted for Cabinet jobs, top boards and commissions and even for judgeships are qualified and suitable for service. But as the winner of the election, Lingle has a right to put together an administration of her own choosing.

At the national level, we have seen too much nasty partisanship by both parties, particularly in the case of federal judgeships, to last a lifetime. Hawai'i deserves better.

The newly organized Senate, which keeps Robert Bunda as president, elevates the internal power of Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, D-Wai'anae. In addition to the important policy-making post of majority leader, she will also holds the all-important job of Judiciary chairman. Much of Lingle's early agenda will have to be driven through that particular portal.

The reorganization plan also puts fresh emphasis on economic development, high tech and tourism through a realignment of the committee structure. That's smart thinking, since much of the 2003 legislative agenda will undoubtedly focus on that area.

A smoothly reorganized Democratic majority, accompanied by a newly energized and enlarged five-person Republican minority under the leadership of Sen. Fred Hemmings, is in place to do good work next session.

Let's count on it.