A look at legislative issues

Advertiser Staff

Light rail back on the agenda

The legislative session consists of 60 working days through May 1. Nearly a third of the lawmakers are new: seven of 25 in the Senate and 16 of 51 in the House.

Proposals unveiled in the opening day speeches, while generating publicity, are not always successful. For example, speeches in the past couple of years raised issues such as a nonbinding gambling referendum, gambling to finance long-term care, expanding prison space, and giving the University of Hawai'i control of Aloha Stadium. None has succeeded.

Perhaps the most surprising proposal came from Senate President Robert Bunda, who revived the issue of a light-rail mass transit system for O'ahu.

At a time when the city is moving forward with its Bus Rapid Transit program and before Lingle is expected to unveil her own proposals, Bunda said: "I believe it's time we dusted off our plans for a light-rail, mass transit system" linking central areas of O'ahu with the city's proposed plans for urban Honolulu.

"Not only will mass transit speed the movement of people and ease traffic, but it will create construction jobs, develop new business centers at key terminals, and provoke us into rethinking the way we live and work, much like the people of great cities around the world."

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie said Hawai'i's congressional delegation will lobby for federal money for a massive transit project only after a solid decision has been made by state and city officials.

"Myself, I would like to see a combination perhaps," Abercrombie said. "But I think a decision has to be made by the council and the mayor and the Legislature. Whatever conclusion they come to they can count on my support and, I'm sure, on the support of Rep. (Ed) Case."

The city canceled a rail plan in 1982 after a change of administration and lost $600 million in federal money in 1992 after the City Council rejected a light-rail system by a 5-4 vote.

Lingle, who has proposed elevated toll lanes that would run parallel to H-1 Freeway from Kapolei to Honolulu, said that she was encouraged by Bunda's "surprising" proposal and she is open to reviewing the specifics of his initiative.

Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris, pleased that Bunda brought up the issue, said he was glad to hear the state did not intend to do anything that would slow or thwart the city's plans for the in-town Bus Rapid Transit system, which has been in the works for the past four years.

The city's plans for a BRT system and Bunda's light-rail proposal are not mutually exclusive. "There's plenty of room for lots of new ideas that can be instituted," Harris said. "I look forward to working cooperatively with the Senate president and the governor in terms of traffic improvements."

He cautioned that if the state planned to apply for federal money for a light-rail or other mass transit system, it could be a four- to six-year process.

"It's important that people realize that we have spent 32 years working on transit and have yet to put a spade in the ground," the mayor said.

Drug test sought for students

Bunda, saying lawmakers must have the political will to tackle Hawai'i's substance abuse problems, proposed a pilot drug-testing program for students. He also said educators should be made aware of students' criminal histories.

"We need to take steps to protect our children in the schools and punish those who try to corrupt them or, even worse, cost them their very lives," he said.

Bunda also said lawmakers should "definitely consider" a secure drug treatment facility.

House backs OHA payment

As about 1,000 Native Hawaiians braved a misty rain to stage a protest rally near the Capitol, House Speaker Calvin Say announced that $10.3 million in deferred ceded land revenue payments would be made to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

He credited Gov. Linda Lingle's office with helping resolve the issue of the back payments without requiring more legislation. The move helps Lingle meet a pledge she made to Native Hawaiians during the gubernatorial campaign.

Ceded lands belonged to the Hawaiian crown before the overthrow of the monarchy and were taken over eventually by the state until new laws created OHA and set aside 20 percent of revenues for OHA.

Lingle said she was pleased that the House leadership agreed no new legislation was needed to release the $10.3 million. She said the priority now is to find a new means of continuing the ceded land payments to OHA that will withstand anticipated constitutional challenges.

School boards another issue

In a hint of what may be a skirmish to come, Say and House Majority Leader Scott Saiki said they want to establish a community school board initiative program to address education problems, a proposal that is markedly different from Lingle's plan to set up seven elected school boards.

Saiki said the plan allows the superintendent to set up community-based advisory boards that would attach themselves to clusters of schools, likely grouped according to proximity.

While they would be strictly advisory, "these boards would take public input and advise the superintendent on how they would improve the schools within their particular clusters," Saiki said.

Lingle said she still needed to know how the House proposal would work. However, the governor said she found it heartening that the leadership wants a change.

She said she still wants voters to decide on the issue of local school boards by a constitutional amendment question on the 2004 ballot.

"This is an issue we feel so strongly about that we will go public on this issue and ask them to join us in convincing House and Senate members that the people of Hawai'i should be allowed to decide this issue," the governor said. "The legislators need to vote to put this on the ballot to allow the people of Hawai'i to decide and not to substitute their own judgment for what the people believe."

Bunda and Say noted the uncertainties looming before the state, such as a struggling national economy and a potential war, all the while dealing with budget challenges.

"Although our current economic condition may look bleak, I believe it's really an opportunity to restructure the way government does business and to restore public confidence in our institutions or, as some like to call it, a new beginning," Bunda said.

Both leaders said they will propose tax incentives to stimulate job creation and help the economy.

Bunda also said the Senate will explore new ways to support the agricultural industry and build a stronger sports industry.

Say called on House members to help restore public trust in government, saying campaign finance reform will be a priority.

The state needs to focus on geothermal energy to reduce reliance on imported oil, which supplies 90 percent of the state's energy, Say said. "Just this month, Hawaiian Electric announced a promising new program with a $10 million investment in alternative energy development. This is a promising first step. But we can do more. We will speed up this process by seeking a statewide energy audit."

House Minority Leader Galen Fox, R-23rd (Waikiki, Ala Moana, Kaka'ako), called jobs and education the top priorities for the state.

"It's the lack of jobs that is forcing families apart, and sending our friends to the Mainland," Fox said, echoing a sentiment Lingle used in her inauguration speech. "Most transplanted ex-Hawai'i residents would rather be home, if they could just make a decent living here."