Tomorrow is Day 12 of the 60-day session.

Senate Democrats released their majority package for the session on Monday, which includes a proposal to give developers faster state approval for projects over the next decade if the projects are more sustainable through the use of renewable energy, solid waste diversion, recycled wastewater and affordability.

The package also contains a state earned income tax credit for low-income workers, a basic health plan for uninsured children, and more money for repair and maintenance at public schools.

Senate Democrats said the package showed a commitment to sustainability but was modest and targeted in scope.

Governor pushes innovation: Gov. Linda Lingle made her first appearances before state House and Senate committees on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss her two-year, $30 million innovation package.

Lingle stressed investments in work force development, life sciences, digital media and music, along with science and technology academies at public schools and scholarships for students who want to study the subjects in college.

Democrats said they agree that the state needs to invest in innovation but doubted that the Republican governor's package would survive the session intact.

Sierra Club backs Young: Peter Young, whose confirmation as director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources has been in jeopardy in the Senate, was given a lift Tuesday when the Sierra Club's Hawai'i chapter announced it would support him.

The environmental group was among several that considered calling for Young's resignation in 2005 over the direction of the department. But Jeff Mikulina, the group's director, cited Young's leadership in marine and stream protection and restricting coastal development as reasons behind its support.

The Sierra Club also noted Young's role in protecting the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Monument and in controlling commercial fishing.

"I think it's kind of notable that we've done a 180-degree change on Peter Young," Mikulina said.

Commercial fishing interests and some Hawaiian activists apparently remain critical of Young's leadership, and some observers believe his confirmation is still in doubt.

State warns of Superferry stall: A deputy attorney general told state House lawmakers Thursday that the state would likely get sued if lawmakers force Hawaii Superferry to do an environmental impact statement that delays a planned July launch.

"Obviously somebody is going to lose a lot of money," said Bill Wynhoff, a deputy attorney general, who said ferry developers could raise issues of due process, interference with vested rights, inverse taking and the contract clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Several Neighbor Island lawmakers want an environmental impact statement to assess the influence of ferry service on traffic and the environment. There may be enough support in the Senate for a bill requiring a review, but sentiment in the House appears softer.

John Garibaldi, the president and chief executive officer of Hawaii Superferry, said developers have worked extensively on issues such as traffic, invasive species and avoiding whales. "The passage of this bill would send a resounding message that those who play by the rules, make significant decisions and invest capital can have the result easily changed on a retroactive basis," Garibaldi told lawmakers.

The federal and state governments ruled that the Superferry did not need an environmental impact statement and court challenges so far have failed to delay or stop the project.

State Rep. Hermina Morita, D-14th (Hanalei, Anahola, Kapa'a), the chairwoman of the House Energy and Environmental Protection Committee, said an environmental impact statement would have brought more confidence to the project instead of Superferry responding to community concerns only as they arose.

"So my assessment is you haven't played by the rules, and now you're playing catch-up to gain that confidence," Morita said.

Teachers seek substantial raise: The first glimpse inside public-worker union contract negotiations came Thursday when public school teachers said they are seeking raises that would boost top annual salaries to more than $100,000 in two years.

The 13,000-member Hawai'i State Teachers Association wants a two-year contract with raises of 12 percent and 16 percent by the end of each year, respectively, said Joan Husted, the union's executive director.

The Hawai'i Government Employees Association, which represents white-collar public workers, and United Public Workers, which represents blue-collar workers, are also in talks with the state.

The contracts are expected to influence state spending decisions later this session.

OVERHEARD

"Genocide anywhere is something we should abhor and oppose."

— Rep. Roy Takumi, D-36th (Pearl City, Momilani, Pacific Palisades), on a bill that would get the state Employees' Retirement System to divest public money from companies that do business with the government of Sudan

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com, Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com and Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.