Maui County lawmakers a little stunned by Lingle veto

The Maui News
Friday, April 30, 2004

By MARK ADAMS, Staff Writer

HONOLULU - Maui lawmakers seemed a bit stunned Thursday after Gov. Linda Lingle's veto of their education reform package prompted huddles in the hallways of the Capitol to discuss how the Democratic majority will respond.

Both the House and the Senate were caucusing after the "soft" veto of Lingle, who killed their bill but offered a five-point compromise measure. She asked that they work with her administration in the last week of the session in a bipartisan effort to enact meaningful education reform.

"That's not enough time," said veteran Maui Rep. Joe Souki, although he expressed grudging admiration of the governor's ability to turn the debate around.

"It's a good political move on her part," Souki said. "She's put the Legislature on the defensive."

Souki said the governor has presented lawmakers with an alternative she knows they likely will not accept, and if they override her veto after her measured performance on live television they are likely to take heat.

"She looked very nice. She talked softly . . . Her performance will be tough to combat," Souki said. "Someone gave her good advice."

The response of the Democratic leadership will need to be as measured and well-reasoned as Lingle's if the public is to accept the response that is ultimately developed, he said.

The Democrats defended their reform package as an honest attempt at improving the state's educational system.

"It was a good first step," Souki said of the package, one that included giving principals more power over spending and putting money toward things like smaller class sizes and more textbooks.

Rep. Bob Nakasone agreed, while noting that the governor's proposal includes several provisions that originated in the legislative package they approved.

The Department of Education had asked for additional funding and a little more room to operate, he said, and the bill provided those things.

Both sides will need to sit down and look at their options, Nakasone said.

Sen. Shan Tsutsui said it is possible that the Democrats and Lingle can work out their differences.

It's also possible that a veto override vote is in the offing, he said.

"The governor and Legislature are in agreement on many points," Tsutsui said. "We sent her what we thought was a good bill."

The senator said the governor is exercising her prerogative in killing the bill.

"Now is an appropriate time for her to respond," Tsutsui said. "Hopefully, we can work out our differences."

The governor's offer of a bipartisan cooperative effort aimed at education reform comes late in the game, said Sen. J. Kalani English, after Republicans were adamant during the session that they would not budge on their version of education reform.

"The problem as I see it was that some chose to put everything on a partisan basis. All through the session it's been, 'My way or no way,' " English said. "I'm glad they're finally learning how to compromise."

English said Lingle's characterization of her action Thursday as a "soft veto" is good public relations, but not really accurate.

"A veto is a veto," he said. "That's like being partially pregnant."

All of the compromise language, with provisions of the legislative package included by Lingle but modified, should have been brought up earlier, the senator said.

But English said the governor is exercising a power given to her by the state Constitution, and it's all part of the legislative process.

Of the governor's call for lawmakers to act like "statesmen," English noted he has formal training as a diplomat and has been involved in many negotiations, working with all sides involved - "if they are willing to effect real change."

And in every good statesman is a good politician, he said, in the highest sense of that word.

The governor's veto Thursday and her subsequent offer of compromise appears sincere, English said, and he thinks the Legislature is also sincere in its effort to find a way to improve the state's public school system.

The senator said he is hoping for a good outcome on the issues involved in the final days of the legislative session, agreeing with Lingle on a major point: "It's not about our party or their party," English said. "It's about the people."

Mark Adams can be reached at madams@mauinews.com.

Copyright © 2003 — The Maui News

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