Carol: As a taxpayer, I find it unconscionable that the unions and the state still cannot reach an agreement. The longer this goes on, the deeper the budget hole grows. What would you have done differently? More important, what do you intend to do as one of the state's leaders?

Senate President Colleen Hanabusa: What we have to recognize is that we're in collective bargaining. So the Legislature really doesn't play a role in collective bargaining. The only time we have a say is usually if they reach an agreement that required money — which we don't think is going to happen this time — then it would be a vote on the budget appropriation measure.

I will say this: If I were to do things differently the one thing I would not have done is delayed this process, which is what they did. Remember it takes both parties in collective bargaining to agree to do that. Both sides — union and administration — had to say, OK, we are going to delay.

And it may be 20-20 hindsight. Had the budget situation changed and went up it may have been a really good strategy. But right now if you give me the opportunity of just being able to say what I would have done differently, I would not have delayed the collective bargaining process. And if you ask us as state leaders what can we do, there is very little we can do while they are negotiating.

Ray: Union leaders have said they believe the state should raise taxes to minimize the impact of labor reductions. Would you support a tax increase, particularly in the GET, in the upcoming legislative session? Does your role as a labor attorney influence your point of view?

Hanabusa: That's a good point. My knowledge as a labor attorney does and will affect how I look at things and I may have a better understanding of collective bargaining, for example, than anyone else.

However, as a legislator when I'm looking at the budget situation and how we are going to reach that balanced budget or how we are going to anticipate or close "the puka," as I say, that's separate and apart from that. And most of collective bargaining is done between the administration and the unions.

The whole issue of the GET, now remember the Senate did pass out a GET (increase) because at the time that we did everyone was very concerned about what would happen to this budget. Just so that Ray remembers, the governor was there telling us that everything must be on the table and we kept everything on the table. So that GET (tax increase) bill is actually in the House now.

So in terms of whether or not I would have supported it, I would have to say, in all honesty, I did support it and it went out. But that was when we all agreed that in order to meet the crisis we needed to have all the different kind of tools, GET being one. We still do have a puka to contend with but I'm very hopeful that collective bargaining will resolve itself shortly, hopefully before the end of the month. At that time, we will then have to address whatever we need to address but we would have firm numbers going into the next legislative session.

Kalei: What are your thoughts on the economy? What should we expect in 2010 in terms of state programs and services? Will there be more cuts?

Hanabusa: At this point what we're seeing is there is growth, albeit small, because what you are looking at of course is a lower base. But we are still looking at a growth.

So if people are beginning to regain confidence and in fact our numbers are changing to justify this increase, we won't be back to "the good old days," which weren't too long ago, but we will see an upward trend.

The Senate and House have a committee that we just convened that I have very high hopes for and that is on the impact of construction, and we have some of the best minds I think on that. I believe we have tourism as our base, government is the biggest employer, but the industry, that if we can kick-start it would have the greatest multiplier effect that we can rely on, is construction. And that is why when you look at the federal stimulus package, part of it is construction and part of it is programmatic kind of monies.

Also the Senate and state, as part of a bill, have convened a stimulus oversight committee represented by four members of Congress and the governor's representative , and chaired by a senator, representative and four public members. Their purpose is to watch the stimulus money. There's no question, the other major component for us now of how we are going to survive is going to be the federal stimulus money.

Heathen07: Do you support equal rights under the law and fair treatment for lesbians and gays, including access to marriage or something equivalent?

Michael Golojuch, Jr.: Will you be supporting the Civil Unions Bill HB 444 this next session? Unlike what you did last session.

Hanabusa: For the first question, there is no question, I support civil rights and I do support equal treatment of all. I support civil unions and I've made that very clear. HB 444, which is presently in the Senate right now on our floor, technically is an amended form, which we had actually discussed with many of the advocates and it's their version.

I am of the belief that there is probably sufficient support — if the indication is the vote on the second reading on that bill — that that bill does have the support of the members to go out.

I think there is a misperception about what happened in the Senate on HB 444. I know one of the other people who wrote in said how come we said the votes were there, and it wasn't there. And a lot of it is because I don't personally go out and count. We have members of leadership that do that and the representation made to me and others was that the votes were there.

The Senate is a dynamic process. We have 25 very independent individuals. And I will tell you, what was going on with the Senate was a desire to look at options and just ask for the vote to be delayed until people who had ideas could then explore (them). That's why the first time it didn't get pulled out of committee. After having that opportunity and if the bill was as proposed to the Senate, then so be it. When we talk about the dynamics of a body with 25 different minds, it does change. And for us the senate majority is 23, but even among us we have differing opinions.

Howard: What are your plans for 2010, do you plan to run for Congress or for the governor's seat? Don't your constituents deserve to know?

Hanabusa: Of course my constituents deserve to know. But I need to know first. First of all it's a compliment that people would even think that I would be considering it or be a viable candidate for any of those positions and I am considering it. And as soon as I know I'm sure, Howard will know.