Democrats ready to work with Lingle — or around her

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Analysis

Democrats' talk of unity and focus against a strong Republican governor may lead to substantial legislation.

Democratic lawmakers have decided to play to their strength, and their strength is in their numbers.

Stuck with a popular Republican governor who has made no secret her desire to diminish their numbers in this fall's elections, the Democrats today will take the unprecedented step of unveiling one, unified legislative package.

Rep. Galen Fox, a Republican, responded to the unity message that Democrats delivered yesterday. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

House Speaker Calvin Say, D-20th (St. Louis Hts., Palolo, Wilhelmina Hts.) and Senate President Robert Bunda, in speeches that sounded nearly identical, spoke of instituting education reform, battling crystal methamphetamine and providing prescription drug coverage for the needy.

It will be more of the same today, except with details.

"I think you're going to see a Legislature this year that is very focused," said House Majority Leader Scott Saiki, D-22nd (McCully, Pawa'a). "We have set priorities for both the House and the Senate, and we are intent on executing those priorities."

What the strategy means for Lingle's pet legislation — a constitutional amendment asking voters to decide if they want to adopt elected school boards — remains to be seen. The Department of Education is run by a statewide board with 13 elected members and a nonvoting student member.

Rather than attack Lingle head-on, the Democrats made it a point yesterday to say that they believe they will be able to work with her on many of the issues and, failing that, will work around her.

Still, the newfound focus by the Democrats could signal that this year's session will produce new laws on areas where there is agreement between the Democrats and Lingle. These would include adopting a weighted formula in providing money for schools and an improved prescription drug program for the elderly and most needy.

Democratic leaders in the House, in fact, spent the time after the opening day speeches explaining to reporters how much similarity there was between the administration and the Legislature on education reform and the other points.

"The key to education reform is decentralization and making sure that the money goes directly to the schools," said House Vice Speaker Sylvia Luke, D-26th (Punchbowl, Pacific Heights, Nu'uanu Valley). "And I think both the administration and the Legislature have come a long way in agreeing that the priority is to make sure that money is sent directly to the schools."

House Speaker Calvin Say yesterday discussed Democrat goals for the upcoming legislative session. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

"We agreed with most of it — empowering the principals, putting power directly to the schools, resources directly to the schools, making the principal accountable, giving that principal the autonomy, the flexibility, the authority to make decisions on behalf of the school with input from the community," Takumi said.

He acknowledged that one disagreement was with the advisory committee's conclusion that locally elected boards are crucial to the success of a formula that would use individual student needs to determine how much money should go to each school.

Even then, however, Takumi insisted that there will be a fair hearing on the school boards issue.

Lingle, meanwhile, declined to say what she believes has led Democrats to act with such unity.

As for whether she believes the Democrats' newfound focus will be a plus, Lingle said she's optimistic. "I think the public has the potential to get some good changes done if we can stay focused," she said.

Luke denied that the Democrats were presenting a unified agenda out of political necessity. She noted that "growing pains" with new chairmen and members on both the House and Senate side now appear to have resolved themselves.

Neal Milner, a political science professor at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, said the talk of focus and unity may be based on first day niceties. On the other hand, he said, the Democratic lawmakers may have figured out that the best defense against a strong Lingle is to present a unified front.

"So if you combine the two, there's two kind of interesting messages there — we're unified but we're cooperative." While that may sound like conflicting messages, Milner said, it makes sense entering the session in an election year.

Milner said the focused message theme could ultimately bode well for the public. Passage of substantial legislation on educational reform and the ice problem could mark a successful session.

Lingle's specific proposals will come Monday when she presents her State of the State address.

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