Special session expected

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

House and Senate Democrats are expected to convene a special session Tuesday to try to override Gov. Linda Lingle's anticipated vetoes of at least three bills, including legislation that contains $3.6 million for social service agencies.

House Majority Leader Scott Saiki said yesterday that he expects the Democratic caucuses in both houses to make a final decision on Monday. "An override session is more likely than not," said Saiki, D-22nd (McCully, Pawa'a).

Only once in state history has a veto been overriden.

A two-thirds majority of each house is needed to override. Democrats hold 36 of the 51 House seats. But three of the Democrats are out of town, leaving the party one shy of two-thirds.

Rep. Dennis Arakaki, D-30th (Moanalua, Kalihi Valley, 'Alewa) is in the Philippines but is expected to return Tuesday morning. Legislative staffers say they are not too concerned about the close timing because Arakaki needn't be present for the session to convene — a move that needs only a simple majority.

Arakaki's presence for overriding vetoes is crucial, however, particularly since Minority Leader Galen Fox said yesterday that he expects all 15 Republicans to vote against overriding all three vetoes.

In the Senate, where Democrats hold a 20-5 edge, the majority caucus met yesterday and agreed to come back to overturn expected vetoes on:

• Senate Bill 1305, which contains the $3.6 million for 20 social service programs. Lingle has announced her intention to use a line-item veto to delete that money.
• House Bill 282, which requires state agencies to reimburse the legislative auditor for the cost of financial audits conducted by or contracted by the auditor.
• Senate Bill 255, which would make voidable all private restrictions on agricultural activities that are not for protecting environmental and cultural resources.

Senate President Robert Bunda said Democratic senators want the House majority to consider up to eight more of the remaining 47 bills that Lingle said she will veto. "We have consensus from members on those seven or eight," said Bunda, D-22nd (North Shore, Wai'anae).

Lingle said: "I don't think there's any real reason for any overrides this session. I think we pointed out some serious problems with certain bills and some financial issues with other bills."

Social service advocates showed up at the Capitol on Tuesday to testify against the anticipated cuts from SB 1305.

But Lingle said: "We felt, and we still feel, we can meet the needs of the community and are meeting the needs with other programs, with making adjustments to our administrative departments. Both our health director and our human services director feel confident that if we had to, we could address some of these things in the next session."

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.