Tomorrow is Day 4 of the 60-day session.

The 24th session of the state Legislature opened last Wednesday with House and Senate leaders talking about the importance of sustainability and reducing the state's high cost of living.

Majority Democrats will make affordable housing, renewable energy, repair and maintenance at public schools, children's healthcare and disaster preparedness their priorities. Republicans also highlighted affordable housing and renewable energy, but want lawmakers to approve substantial tax relief.

Democrats say they will wait for clearer estimates on emergency spending, such as the repairs needed after the Big Island earthquakes in October, and the outcome of negotiations between the Lingle administration and the state's public-worker unions, before committing to a dollar figure on tax relief.

House Democrats estimated that the cost of the union contracts could be $500 million.

Lawmakers are required to provide a tax refund this year because of two consecutive years where the budget surplus has exceeded expected state revenues by 5 percent. Both House and Senate Democrats said tax relief will not likely be large because of caution about the state's economic growth and the need to invest in infrastructure and other priorities. House Democrats said relief might be in the $25 million to $50 million range.

Gov. Linda Lingle proposed $346 million in tax relief over two years, including a one-time refund check to every taxpayer and permanent changes to help with inflation, groceries, gasoline and caring for children or elderly parents.

In the Senate, new president Colleen Hanabusa, D-21st (Nana-kuli, Makaha), made history as the first woman ever to preside over a chamber in the Legislature.

Hanabusa, in her Opening Day speech, said she wants to redirect a $75 million tax credit for an aquarium at Ko Olina Resort & Marina toward developing digital media and hotel management programs that might benefit the Leeward Coast. Hanabusa had pushed the controversial tax credit through the Legislature and it was signed into law by Lingle in 2003.

OVERHEARD

"It has been whispered about me that I should learn to act like a freshman, that I should know my place. Mr. Chair, my place is on this floor and I refuse to be intimidated from using my voice and exercising my right to vote."

— State Rep. Della Au Belatti, D-25th (Tantalus, Makiki, McCully), from her prepared remarks for Opening Day, when she was one of three House lawmakers to vote against Calvin Say, D-20th (St. Louis Heights, Palolo Valley, Wilhelmina Rise) becoming state House speaker.

COMING UP