The amendment would create a candidate advisory council to screen and nominate potential candidates for appointment to the Board of Regents. The regents currently are appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the state Senate.

Republican Rep. Mark Moses called the amendment bill "a flawed and vengeful measure."

"It will handcuff this governor, put a stranglehold on her, and strip her of all the powers the people elected her to do when they sent her here," said Moses, R-40th (Makakilo-Kapolei).

Eight of the 10 Republicans and Democrat Josh Green of Kailua-Kona voted against the bill. The only Republicans who voted in favor of the change were Kymberly Pine of 'Ewa Beach and William Stonebraker of Hawai'i Kai.

Rep. Helene Hale, D-4th (Pahoa-Kalapana), voted in favor of the proposed amendment but said she did so with reservation because she feels the amendment should allow for the public to elect the regents.

The House also approved a companion bill to establish the advisory council and spell out its membership.

Six of the 11 members of the advisory council would be appointed by entities within the university. The others would be appointed by the governor, Senate President, House Speaker, the Hawai'i Government Employees Association and the Hawai'i State Bar Association.

Both Senate measures were amended by the House and now go back to the Senate. If the Senate doesn't agree to the House amendments, the measures will go to a conference committee.

If the measure is passed, it will go on the 2006 ballot and require voter approval before the constitution can be amended.

In many states, it is the norm for the governor to appoint members of university governing board, Moses said. This has been done in Hawai'i for as long as there has been a Democratic governor, he said.

But Moses said it is not the norm for screening boards, noting that only four states follow this procedure.

The Association of Governing Boards has recommended against screening boards with special interest representatives, Moses said.

House Minority Leader Galen Fox, R-23rd (Waikiki-Ala Moana), said California, the state he admires most for its higher education system, has a system of direct appointment of regents by the governor.