People of Hawaii, Governor Lingle, and distinguished guests:

Senate President Bunda, it is nice to see you again.

A recent letter written by a woman to a major Honolulu newspaper sparks this speech. Her theme was the importance of not giving a tax cut to the "rich", but rather keeping the money in the government for more state programs. To what end would that recommendation take us? Some suffer from what has long been one of our greatest political diseases — that is to divide us. The sad ploy is to use "the them against us formula" to thwart the "other side" politically. If we fall for the ploy of dividing us we succumb to the extremes: left/right, rich/poor, haole/local, conservative/liberal. What we should hold in common is to make Hawaii a better place for everyone. After all these years lets make an affordable economy, better public education, energy independence, affordable housing, and a tax cut a reality, not just political slogans in an election year. Here is where the opening day speech becomes so difficult for those of us who are advocating honest change. To achieve our goal it is difficult to replace the majority party's edifices of the status quo. We hope that the people of Hawaii will see the wisdom in the course the Senate Republicans wish the 2006 legislature take to make Hawaii a better place. I really believe most of our citizens are not interested in political labels.

Energy independence

Hurricane Katrina, much like the OPEC embargo of 1974, painfully reminds us how vulnerable Hawaii is to geopolitical, economic and even a natural disaster's impact on energy. The politics of the status quo in the last thirty years have actually led this state on a path of greater dependency on fossil fuel. Months ago Senate Republicans offered our "energy independence" package. It is the Senate minority's desire to legislate incentives for conservation. We know energy efficient vehicles will truly cut consumers gas prices at the pump and wean us from dependency on the volatile oil market.

Besides conservation, we also wish to stimulate the market for renewable resources and advanced technologies as energy sources. Maui Bio-diesel is a reality. It is helping to prove that we do not have to be dependent on foreign oil. Renewable energy can also make hydrogen fuel cells economically viable. We will introduce legislation to create energy enterprise zones, and legislation to cut the red tape and costs for renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal and biomass. Hawaii can lead the nation in energy independence. Rather than sadly leading the nation on high energy prices. By the way, the nations only gas cap has not, I repeat, HAS NOT, resulted in benefits to consumers. The gas cap has resulted in our prices being adjusted on a weekly basis to remain the highest in the nation. We say repeal the gas cap.

Tax relief

A growing number of citizens of Hawaii are voicing their frustration with high taxes. That is why Senate Republicans once again are calling for a progressive tax reduction. The surplus at the end of the current budget biennium is projected to be about $600 million dollars; we hope enlightened majority party members will join us in recognizing the need for a tax cut. The excise tax on food is extremely regressive; it hurts the poor the most. It is important to note that the poorest 20% of state taxpayers pay the highest proportion of their income in taxes. Taxing the poor and the hungry is unacceptable and must be stopped. We have introduced, as we do every year, legislation to eliminate the excise tax on food. Eliminating the cruel excise tax on food is immediate and helps everyone especially the poor the most. Its time has come. It is important to note that such an enduring tax cut would not consume the entire projected surplus thus leaving enough money for school repairs, which we support. The people of Hawaii deserve a tax cut.

Public/private partnerships

The political agents of the status quo for years have built government monopolies attempting to be all things to all people. Once again we wish to change that formula. Public/private partnerships do indeed provide public benefit at less cost. The Governor's Economic Momentum Commission recently included a recommendation that illustrates that point. Isn't it incredible that Hawaii, an island state, ranks among the last of all fifty states for recreational mooring space in our harbors? For years the state government has maintained a stranglehold on our harbors. The Economic Momentum Commission recommends a simple solution. Pass necessary legislation or a resolution that would allow submerged lands to be leased to the private sector for development of marinas. Wouldn't it be great if one or more private sector companies could partner with the state in developing Kehii Lagoon into the biggest and the best marina in the Pacific? Most harbors including Kahalui, Kawaihae and even Nawiliwili, could also include thriving marinas to benefit the fishermen and recreational boaters in our island state. Public/private partnerships could even be utilized in conservation. Private charitable trusts, such as the Nature Conservancy and the Audubon Society, have proven to be cost effective stewards of conservation. The Nature Conservancy succeeded in saving Pelekunu Valley on Molokai. It was the synergy created by a public/private partnership that will save Waimea Valley on Oahu. These same partnerships could be the formula for conservation of Legacy Lands. The status quo formula of huge tax and spending increases will do little to really save legacy lands, and I might add build affordable houses. The Lingle Administration has demonstrated success in many areas of public private partnerships. The administration has also attained significant success in new welfare to work initiatives where private companies are helping to train welfare recipients in meaningful income producing jobs. The SEE Hawaii Work program is a win for everyone including welfare dependents, business and taxpayers. Isn't it sad that last year this legislature restricted the Department of Human Services flexibility to use federal money for programs like SEE Hawaii Work. Public/private partnerships are innovative initiatives that deviate from business as usual. Let's make them happen.