The Democratic Party of Hawai'i's state central committee yesterday urged voters to reject a Constitutional Convention on the November ballot.

The resolution, approved overwhelmingly, describes a Constitutional Convention as "a call to undertake an expensive mission with no need, no plan, and more downside risk than possibility of gain, just to see what happens."

Under the state constitution, voters are asked every decade whether to have a Constitutional Convention to review the state's principal governing document. The last Constitutional Convention was held in 1978. Voters opposed calling conventions in the 1980s and 1990s.

Democrats had chosen not to take a position on the issue at their state convention in May and instead approved a resolution describing the potential risks of a convention to existing rights. But O'ahu Democrats have since approved a resolution asking voters to reject a convention and brought it before the central committee yesterday.

"It's a recommendation to our members," said Brian Schatz, the party's chairman, who opposes a Constitutional Convention. "We have a large and diverse party and we recognize that we have a lot of viewpoints on this issue. But the central committee voted its conscience and this is the result."

The Hawai'i Republican Party enthusiastically endorsed a Constitutional Convention at its state convention in May. Some Republicans said yesterday that the difference of opinion between the two major parties could unnecessarily politicize the debate over a convention in the weeks before the vote.

"This position does nothing to change the status quo and give the people of Hawai'i a stronger voice in government," Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona said in a statement. "It is a shame that some Democratic Party insiders took it upon themselves to change the party's official position of neutrality that was supported by public delegates at the party's state convention.

"By opposing the people's convention, the Democratic Party of Hawai'i wants our citizens to believe they are incapable of making the changes they want to see in government."

HIGH PRICE TAG CITED

Aiona, an early supporter of a Constitutional Convention, said it would give people the power to bypass the Democratic-controlled state Legislature and "improve our public education system, bring about greater transparency and accountability in government, and give local communities a greater say over the types of services they receive."

Labor unions are expected to publicly oppose a Constitutional Convention in the coming weeks as an invitation to uncertainty and a threat to rights such as collective bargaining. Native Hawaiian activists also have warned that a Constitutional Convention may weaken advancements on native rights.

The resolution Democrats approved yesterday found that the constitution should be a stable document amended infrequently and only when there is clear need. It warns that a Constitutional Convention would invite national attention from interest groups and would be no more democratic than the existing legislative process for amending the constitution.

The resolution also claims that the cost of a convention — estimated by the Legislative Reference Bureau at between $6.4 million and $41.1 million, depending on the number of delegates and scope — would compete for funding with other state programs during an economic downturn. A task force led by Aiona found that a convention could be held for less than $10 million.

PARTY NEEDED STANCE

Tony Gill, chairman of the O'ahu Democrats, said Democrats waited for the discussion over a Constitutional Convention to mature since the state convention in May and many Democrats believed the party needed to take a position.

"What's happened between then and now is that no one really has come forward with a compelling reason to have one, from the Democratic point of view," Gill said. "So that's the change. It's now time for the party to weigh in. And as (former) Governor (George) Ariyoshi said and others said, Democrats have never been afraid to say what they believe."

State Rep. Della Au Belatti, D-25th (Tantalus, Makiki, McCully), who favors a Constitutional Convention, said she is disappointed by the resolution.

Belatti said labor unions and others stifled debate over the issue at the state convention and now party insiders on the central committee have acted without taking the pulse of the record number of new members who joined the party for the Hawai'i presidential caucuses this year.

"What is there to fear about having an open discussion about a ConCon?" she asked.