By Jerry Burris
Advertiser Editorial Editor

This undoubtedly has been a busy weekend for Hawai'i Sens. Daniel Akaka and Dan Inouye as Congress struggles to wrap up its business and adjourn for Thanksgiving.

The two Democrats find themselves, perhaps unexpectedly, at the center of considerable national attention as the Senate tries to deal with the huge (and hugely controversial) energy bill.

President Bush has his heart set on this massive piece of legislation, which focuses on encouraging and increasing production of oil, gas, coal and corn-based ethanol. Opponents, and there are many, charge the bill is a massive giveaway to special interests that falls far short of being the progressive national energy policy this nation needs.

While the bill passed the House easily, it has stalled in the Senate, where a filibuster has kept the measure from coming to a final vote. Proponents have rounded up 58 votes to cut off the debate, but they need 60.

That's where Inouye and Akaka come in.

Both Hawai'i senators have supported the filibuster, but there is heavy pressure on them to back down. Some of that pressure must be coming from Hawai'i's good friend, Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, who is a strong supporter of the oil industry.

On the other side, environmental and other groups opposed to the bill are exerting their own pressure on the two senators. The two have been flooded with letters and personal lobbying efforts from groups such as the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Consumers Union and others.

There is speculation that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist will call for a re-vote on cloture (closing off debate) as early as tomorrow. What could happen to change the minds of any of those senators who now support the filibuster?

One theory is that in exchange for stepping out of the way of a final energy-bill vote, there would be favors (or favorable consideration, at least) of other matters at a later time.

That's a difficult decision to make, because it effectively asks a senator to trade today's reality for tomorrow's possibility.

Akaka has been particularly strong in his opposition to the energy bill, so it is unlikely he would switch and allow it to proceed unless he had a fairly strong reading that it would fail on the floor.

In floor remarks, Akaka said "We need to bring down the high costs of electricity and gasoline for the country, particularly in my state of Hawai'i, and (we must) pursue greater energy independence from petroleum products. The (energy) conference report does not make these goals achievable."

That places the senator rather firmly on record, one would think.

Purists might argue that members of Congress must always work from principle and idealistic objectives. But that is not always possible in a world where few issues are black and white and legitimate interests (say, home-state needs vs. national policy) often collide.

What Akaka and Inouye decide over the next day or two will tell us a lot about how they deal with these difficult and often conflicting burdens.

Jerry Burris is editor of The Advertiser's editorial pages. Reach him through letters@HonoluluAdvertiser.com.