These are the cornerstones upon which our State has prospered.

I stand here today not to dwell on the past, but to learn from the past. We must change with the times, but hold fast to unchanging values. I stand here today to remind us, as lawmakers, of these values which we must never forget:

First, we will invest in public education — "the great equalizer" — not only to raise our standard of living, but to enable our children to reach for the stars and attain their highest aspirations.

Second, that our legacy will be judged by how we preserve our natural resources and the environment for future generations.

Third, that we must be vigilant in protecting our civil liberties and Hawai'i's Bill of Rights, and

Finally, that the people come first — before money, before special interests, and most importantly before politics.

Over the past weeks, the members of the Democratic caucus have come together, with great spirit and determination, to develop our majority plan for the 23rd Legislature — to achieve a sustainable "quality of life" for all of our citizens.

Mr. Speaker, honored guests, it is with great pride that I share with you the highlights of the Majority's agenda.

Education

We begin with education. Improving student achievement is at the top of our agenda.

Last session, the Legislature created Act 51, the Reinventing Education Act of 2004. This is a bold, innovative way to determine how our schools are operated, administered, and funded. We have put resources where they belong — directly into the classroom.

In 2005, the Majority will look to refine Act 51 by strengthening the partnership with the Department of Education and monitoring the administration of this important measure. For the sake of Hawai'i's children, and their future, we all want Act 51 to work.

Transportation

In addition to education, transportation is a major quality of life concern. We are an island state, and each one of our islands faces unique transportation problems.

For many O'ahu families, gridlock traffic is one of the most pressing issue affecting their quality of life. For our Neighbor Island families, the needs may be very different. Do Big Island residents need a faster way to travel between Hilo and Kona? Aren't you just as likely to get stuck in traffic in Lihu'e or Lahaina as you would be in Honolulu or Kapolei or even Wahiawa. Obviously, the transportation needs differ from island to island, but the problems are the same.

That's why we will be looking to empower the counties with the authority to levy a county tax, with the proceeds to be used solely for public transit services within their county. We will let the people decide. We need traffic solutions now.

Housing and health

At the core of your Majority's agenda is the belief that our people come first. No one should have to live on the streets nor fear economic ruin from illness or injury. The basic necessities of shelter and good health are often things we take for granted. Yet, for six thousand of our Ohana, survival has become a day-to-day struggle. We must do better.

Hawai'i's real estate market has been booming for several years, and for those who are fortunate to own a home and can take advantage of the market through buying and selling, life is good.

However, as Democrats, we are deeply concerned for those at the other end of the spectrum — affordable housing for the middle class or first time homebuyers, affordable rentals for the many who, realistically, will never be able to purchase a home. And last but never least, the chronically homeless. We must do better.

Who are the chronically homeless? Many are developmentally disabled. Many are Native Hawaiian. Many are veterans. Many are victims of abuse. Isn't Hawai'i a compassionate society? Aren't we compassionate people? We must do better.

In 1974, Hawai'i's Democrats courageously led the nation in passing the Prepaid Healthcare Act, requiring employers to provide health insurance for all of their workers. As a result, almost everyone in the State was covered. However, today, over thirty years later, approximately 120,000 Hawai'i residents are uninsured and unable to receive medical care. We must do better.

In 2005, the Majority package will include legislation to form a two-year commission with the goal to provide accessible, affordable, healthcare for everyone in Hawai'i. This initiative will cover health issues from obesity in our young people to long-term care for our seniors. As the representative from Nanakuli often reminds us, "we are our brother's keeper?"

Business and labor

These same values extend to the workplace where we will fight for equal rights and equal opportunities. The Majority will continue to focus on improving workers' compensation by balancing the interests of the employer and the employee. In particular, reducing workers' compensation fraud will result in reduced premiums and savings for businesses.

We believe that it will also benefit businesses and employees alike to be vigilant on issues affecting working class families. We must end discrimination in the area of family leave and support equal treatment of women in the work force.

Environment

The Majority recognizes that the economy and the environment go hand-in-hand, and we will be reviewing issues such as the impact of invasive species on both the environment and our economy.

We will also be considering a measure to use a portion of the conveyance tax as a funding source for the purchase of what we call "legacy lands." We believe that the lands adjacent to our precious shoreline should be preserved so that future generations will have access to our beaches, that view planes to the ocean are unobstructed, and that these lands be dedicated to public use rather than private use.

In closing, this Majority Agenda reflects the breadth of the many important issues facing our State. We are committed to addressing each one with fair process to improve the quality of life for all of Hawai'i's people.

When I think of how it must have felt for the Democrats on opening day fifty years ago, I'm filled with pride and inspiration by their courage. Not only did they make history, but they laid the foundation for our society to be built on the unchanging principles of equality, opportunity, and justice for all.

In closing Mr. Speaker, your forty-one Democrats have the talent, the passion, and the unity to do better for the people of Hawai'i. Fifty years from now, a Democrat can rise on this floor and be proud of the work we start today.