Panel to call for more security, incentives
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
The House Select Committee on War Preparedness today is expected to approve a tentative set of recommendations to help the state cope with a war with Iraq. The plan includes increasing security at airports, harbors and other major facilities.
House Vice Speaker Sylvia Luke, who has headed the war preparedness panel since it began meeting six weeks ago, said the committee is also expected to say that "if it's going to be a long war, the impact on the state's economy will be very dramatic."
Luke, D-26th (Punchbowl, Pacific Heights, Nu'uanu Valley), said several of the panel's preliminary recommendations have been put into place, including providing additional marketing money for the Hawai'i Tourism Authority. A separate bill would waive landing fees for at least one month for those airlines that maintain the same number of seats from January of this year.
House Speaker Calvin Say, D-20th (St. Louis Heights, Palolo, Wilhelmina Rise), said he hopes the federal Department of Homeland Security can provide much of the money for improvements to airports, harbors and other facilities.
Luke said some federal money was provided to bolster security at Hawai'i facilities after the Sept. 11 attacks, a good signal that further resources could be provided.
Besides airports and harbors, the state's water and electrical supply facilities may also require extra security measures, said Rep. Kirk Caldwell, D-24th (Manoa).
Additional bills, Say said, would address other possible ramifications such as extending unemployment insurance for those who lose their jobs and helping people who lose their health insurance.
House members said they are waiting to hear from Gov. Linda Lingle on their request to have her lead a contingent to Japan, Hawai'i's largest non-domestic source of visitors, to encourage people to continue coming here.
Lingle said she had no immediate plans to travel to Japan, noting that some experts have advised her that it may be more prudent to wait until after a war. She said no one from either the House or the tourism authority has spoken with her about going to Japan.
Say set up the war committee, a 10-member panel that consists of five lawmakers, the state's chief economist and top civil defense chief and three representatives from the business sector. The group has discussed a war's possible effects on the tourism industry, petroleum and food supply, small businesses and other economic areas.
Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.
