At halfway point, bills are still up in the air

The Maui News
Sunday, February 26, 2006

By VALERIE MONSON, Staff Writer

KIHEI – The Hawaii Superferry can expect more scrutiny, dialysis could finally come to Hana and the excise tax on gasoline might be put in the tank.

But with more than half of the 2006 legislative session to go, Maui's state senators still have their fingers crossed and work cut out for them before they can say what projects will actually become reality . . . and which ones will have to wait.

"Right now, things are still up in the air and moving," said Sen. Roz Baker, who represents South and West Maui residents, during a "talk story" session with about a dozen constituents Saturday morning at the Kalama Heights Retirement Residence.

Baker and Sen. J. Kalani English, whose district includes East Maui, Upcountry, Molo-kai and Lanai,

took advantage of a five-day recess to meet with members of their respective districts while Sen. Shan

Tsutsui of Central Maui, the other third of Maui's senatorial team and vice chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, was kept in Honolulu, where the money panel was voting on measures to send to the full Senate floor.

With a rare surplus of $550 million, lawmakers have an opportunity to fund long-neglected needs, support new programs or, if Gov. Linda Lingle has her way, return a large portion to taxpayers, especially those with lower incomes.

Tsutsui said he continues to hope the Legislature will "do the prudent thing" and designate that extra money for repair and maintenance of schools, upkeep of prisons and improvements for hospitals, but he didn't rule out individual returns.

"If the money is there, by all means, I think the Legislature would agree to rebates," said Tsutsui. "At this point, though, I think it's too early to have that discussion."

Baker said she remained convinced that the surplus would better serve the entire community by addressing bigger projects and "not just giving back $5, $10 or $100."

Besides, she added, "it takes $10 million just to process the checks."

Overall, senators introduced 1,500 bills this session, and Baker focused on those that remain alive at the break, especially those that would benefit Maui County. Among the measures still in the loop were proposals to set aside $2.6 million for pump-out facilities at Maalaea Harbor, appropriate an additional $2.2 million for design and construction of a Kihei high school, $4 million for a new administrative building and library at Lahaina Intermediate School and $1.6 million for design, construction and the purchase of equipment for a new cafeteria at Lahainaluna High School. Baker said she's lobbying to get a new elementary school for Lahaina into the mix, too.

English said his package of energy reform bills was advancing, reflecting what he calls a "bipartisan energy strategy that focuses on the best ideas in play from a variety of proposed measures."

Those proposals would provide for the construction of energy-efficient buildings and the retrofitting of current structures along with supporting the expansion of the biofuel industry. English said he's also urging his colleagues to earmark $100 million to implement Act 77, which includes all the energy provisions passed in 2005.

A silver lining in the skyrocketing costs of fuel and electricity has been improved relations between Democratic lawmakers and a Republican administration in search of a solution that's green all the way around.

"This year we've had to work very cooperatively with the executive branch and they with me," said English. "It's a very sincere effort on both sides to make things work."

English also hopes that $2 million for the Hana Community Health Center and $500,000 for dialysis services at the center will help East Maui residents get more of their health needs met at home. For the well-being of two other communities in his far-flung district – Molokai and Lanai – English has included appropriations for Molokai General Hospital and two vehicles for use by Lanai Community Hospital.

Even with the surplus, Tsutsui isn't ready to sign off on every request, no matter how noble the purpose. For instance, another $48 million has been asked for construction of the Kapolei Courthouse, following last year's $96 million appropriation.

"We realize that labor and building costs have gone up, but this is shocking," said Tsutsui. "For $48 million, we can build a school-and-a-half. So we'll take a hard look at it and, like the Superferry, if we don't get timely answers and responses there will be questions."

Perhaps more than any other legislator, Tsutsui has joined critics of the Superferry in asking for more details and meetings with the public. Although the Legislature approved a bill for $40 million in harbor improvements for the project last year, $20 million of that was held up until this year in case questions remained.

Another hot issue centers on the controversial gas cap. Tsutsui isn't sure of the eventual fate of that matter, but he's prepared to support the elimination of the excise tax from gasoline to give motorists relief. He also supports cutting excise taxes on medical services and prescription drugs.

Baker's bills to offer more protection for the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve and allow for closure of the Makena-Keoneoio Road have passed the early cuts. On Saturday, those bills probably generated the most discussion from audience members who endorsed her efforts.

Regarding Maui's busy roadways, Tsutsui said he expected funds for the Paia bypass, which are due to lapse, to be reappropriated. There will also be requests (again) for the Lahaina bypass.

Baker said she was as frustrated as everyone else who wonders if the long-awaited roads will ever come to pass.

"I think all of our highways move along like slow-moving molasses or taffy that's not hardened yet," she said.

Not all the bills depend on massive amounts of money, but instead focus on emphasizing the state's Hawaiian roots and culture.

English has introduced a bill that would require all state documents and letterheads to use the Hawaiian words first, followed by English, with proper punctuation such as okina (glottal stops) and kahako (macrons). He said departments and agencies would have 10 years to phase in the changes.

Valerie Monson can be reached at vmonson@mauinews.com.

Copyright © 2005 The Maui News.

Original article URL: http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=17268

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