State lawmakers return to session this week to draft a two-year budget and cope with issues such as privatization and public worker pay increases. Spirited debates are likely on almost every issue as the newly reinforced House and Senate Republicans challenge the ruling Democrats. The Advertiser polled all 76 state lawmakers to learn their views on a variety of issues, from minimum wage and gambling to plans to close the Ala Wai Golf Course. This survey is intended as a “snapshot” of legislators’ views as they begin the session. It offers clues about the directions your senators and representatives may be headed while there is still time to do something about it. A number of legislators pointed out that they were stating very general positions on complex issues without the benefit of hearing testimony on each subject. They said their views may shift if they hear compelling new arguments. Nineteen of the House’s 51 seats are held by Republicans, and three seats in the 25-member Senate are held by Republicans. The Legislature will open its 60-day session on Wednesday, and is scheduled to adjourn May 3. House Responses Senate Responses Where key issues stand in the Legislature How to reach your representatives and senators

Survey Questions	Business/Taxes	Government	Crime	Other
	1. Should the state increase alcohol and tobacco taxes to pay for drug treatment programs? 2. Create a system of pay-at-the-pump auto insurance? 3. Raise the minimum wage? 4. Eliminate the excise tax on food and rent?	5. Rewrite campaign financing laws to provide for state election campaigns to be solely publicly financed? 6. Pay the raises that the Hawai‘i Government Employees Association won in arbitration this year? 7. Pay raises comparable to the HGEA raises to all public workers? 8. For newly hired public employees, end the practice of paying 100 percent of the cost of health coverage for retirees and their dependents? 9. Allow layoffs of public employees when government services are privatized?	10. Authorize a privately operated prison in Hawai‘i? 11. Authorize a new state-operated prison in Hawai‘i? 12. Raise the age of consent for sex for juveniles from 14 years of age to 16?	13. Legalize casino gambling? 14. Legalize shipboard gambling? 15. Legalize a state lottery? 16. Change to elected county school boards? 17. Allow the governor to amend the executive order to convert the Ala Wai Golf Course into a park?

Survey Reponses Y=Yes, or Support; N=No, or Oppose; Blank=No Reponse or a reponse other than yes/support or no/oppose

Business/Taxes

Government

Crime

Other

House Members

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

Felipe “Jun” Abinsay D – Kalihi-Palama-Moanalua

Y

..

Y

Y

Y

Y

X

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

.

..

.

N

.

Lei Ahu Isa D – Puunui-Alewa-Nuuanu

Y

N

N

Y

Y

Y

X

Y

N

Y

N

Y

N

..

Y

..

.X

Dennis Arakaki D – Kalihi Valley-Kam Heights

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

X

Y

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

N

..

N

Emily Auwae R – Waianae-Makaha

N

N

Y

Y

X

Y

N

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

N

Y

.

Kika Bukoski R – Upcountry Maui

X

..

N

Y

X

Y

XX

..

X

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

.X

Benjamin Cabreros D – Kalihi Kai-Mapunapuna

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

N

..

.

N

N

Ed Case D – Manoa

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

N

N

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

Y

Ron Davis R – Lanai-W. Maui-Molokai

N

N

Y

Y

N

Y

X

N

N

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

N

Charles Djou R – Kahaluu-Kaneohe

X

N

N

Y

N

Y

N

Y

X

Y

X

Y

N

N

N

Y

N

Jerry Chang D – S. Hilo

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Willie Espero D – Ewa Beach

N

..

Y

..

N

Y

X

...

N

Y

Y

Y

X

Y

.

N

Y

Galen Fox R – Waikiki-Ala Wai

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

X

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

N

Nestor Garcia D – Waipahu-Crestview

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

Joe Gomes R – Lanikai-Waimanalo

N

N

N

Y

N

..

.X

Y

.X

Y

.

Y

N

N

N

Y

Y

Helene Hale D – Ka’u-Puna

Y

....

Y

..

Y

Y

.

....

.X

....

.

Y

N

N

N

....

..

Chris Halford R – S. Maui-Keokea-Kihei

.

....

.

....

.

....

.X

....

.

....

.

....

..

....

....

....

...

Eric Hamakawa D – S. Hilo-Puna

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

X

Y

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

Kenneth Hiraki D – Downtown-Ala Moana

.

....

Y

Y

Y

Y

.X

....

.

Y

Y

Y

N

N

..

....

.

Ken Ito D – Kaneohe

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

.

....

.

N

N

Mindy Jaffe R – Waikiki-Kaimuki-Diamond Head

Y

N

N

Y

X

Y

.

Y

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

N

Y

N

Michael Kahikina D – Barbers Pt.-Waianae-Maili

Y

....

Y

Y

Y

Y

.

Y

.X

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

N

Ezra Kanoho D – Waipouli-Lihue

N

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

N

Bertha Kawakami D – Koloa-Waimea-Niihau

N

N

Y

....

N

Y

X

Y

X

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

....

.

Marilyn Lee D – Waipio-Mililani

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

..

Y

....

N

N

N

N

N

Bertha Leong R – Aina Haina-Hawaii Kai

.

N

N

Y

N

Y

.

Y

N

Y

.

Y

N

N

N

Y

N

Sylvia Luke D – Punchbowl-Pauoa

N

N

Y

Y

Y

....

.

Y

N

Y

Y

....

N

N

N

N

N

Michael Magaoay D – Waialua-Kahuku

Y

Y

Y

Y

.

Y

.

N

.X

....

.

Y

N

N

.

N

.

Barbara Marumoto R – Kahala-Waialae Iki

.

N

Y

Y

N

....

.X

Y

X

Y

.

Y

N

N

N

Y

N

Bob McDermott R – Aiea-Salt Lake-Aliamanu

N

N

Y

Y

N

Y

X

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

.

Colleen Meyer R – Laie-Waiahole

N

N

N

Y

N

....

X

Y

N

Y

.

Y

N

N

N

Y

N

Hermina Morita D – E. Maui-N. Kauai

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

.

Y

.X

....

..

....

N

N

N

N

N

Mark Moses R – Kapolei-Ewa Village-Village Park

N

N

Y

Y

N

Y

X

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

X

Bob Nakasone D – Kahului-Wailuku

N

....

Y

Y

Y

Y

X

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

.

....

.X

N

N

Guy Ontai R – Wheeler-Mililani

N

N

N

Y

X

Y

X

Y

N

..

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

...

Blake Oshiro D – Aiea-Halawa Heights-Red Hill

.

N

.

..

Y

..

.

Y

.

Y

Y

....

N

Y

Y

N

N

Marcus Oshiro D – Wahiawa-Whitmore

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

.

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

.

David Pendleton R – Maunawili-Enchanted Lake

N

N

N

Y

.

Y

.

....

X

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

N

Jim Rath R – N. Kona-S. Kohala

N

N

N

Y

N

N

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

N

N

N

Y

N

Scott Saiki D – Kapahulu-Moiliili

N

Y

Y

....

.

....

.

Y

X

....

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

Calvin Say D – Palolo-St. Louis-Kaimuki

N

N

Y

..

Y

Y

X

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

.

..

.

N

N

Brian Schatz D – Makiki-Tantalus

N

..

Y

..

Y

Y

X

Y

X

Y

X

Y

N

N

N

N

.

Joe Souki D – Waiehu-Maalaea-Napili

N

..

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

N

..

Y

Y

.

..

.

N

N

William Stonebraker R – Kalama Valley-Portlock

N

..

Y

Y

X

N

N

N

Y

Y

X

Y

N

N

N

Y

..

Nathan Suzuki D – Salt Lake-Moanalua

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

K. Mark Takai D – Waimalu-Newtown-Pearl City

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

..

.X

..

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

.

Dwight Takamine D – Hamakua-N. Kohala

..

..

..

..

.X.

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

Roy Takumi D – Pearl City-Waipahu

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

.

..

N

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

Cynthia Thielen R – Kailua-Kaneohe Bay Dr.

Y

N

.X

Y

Y

....

.

Y

N

Y

N

....

N

N

N

Y

Y

Paul Whalen R – N. and S. Kona-Ka’u

N

N

.

Y

..

..

.

..

.

..

.

Y

N

N

N

Y

.

Noboru Yonamine D – Pearl City-Pacific Palisades

N

..

Y

N

N

Y

Y

..

Y

Y

.

N

N

N

.

N

N

Terry Nui Yoshinaga D – Moiliili-McCully-Pawaa

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

.

..

.

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

..

N

Correction: Rep. Lei Ahu Isa opposes legalizing casino gambling. An earlier version of this chart indicated otherwise.