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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 3, 2001 |
Contact: Rep. Galen Fox Tel.: 586-8520 |
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES!
Increased GOP presence changed the legislative process for the better
The State House Republican Caucus has released the following statement:
Our House Republican Caucus, nineteen members strong, made a positive impact this session and changed the "politics as usual" attitude in the State House of Representatives. We believe that the public is grateful that some measure of democracy has returned to the legislative process. The days when the Democrats can run roughshod over any opposition have ended. We are looking forward to the next session with anticipation and will have a visionary package of legislation focused on education and jobs. We know the people of Hawaii are counting on us.
We believe that much of the progress made by the 21st Legislature comes as a result of Republicans increasing their numbers to a State House historical high. Here is how we helped:
Restoring the Right of Recall - Committee chairs may no longer "ice box" good ideas in committee and legislators are finally being held accountable for voting down good measures.
Raising the Age of Consent - The Democrats tried to "bottle" raising the age of consent. This was the historic first bill we pulled from committee. Our action and the subsequent public outcry were such that Hawaii's age of sexual consent will be increased to sixteen from what was the lowest age of consent in the nation.
Privatization - The House Democrats sought to pass managed competition. Only because the Republicans stood together to support privatization will Hawaii have the ability to privatize services in the future.
Fiscal Responsibility - Line item budget spending--in the form of "budget worksheets"--is now open to the public because of Republican efforts. Republicans have also come close to mandating use of fiscal notes on each bill. Fiscal notes estimate the costs, savings, revenue gain, or revenue loss of proposed legislation.
Protecting the Rainy Day Fund - The Republicans--with over one third of House votes-- blocked an attempt to raid the rainy day fund on the House floor and worked in committee to prevent the raid from taking place in conference.
Closer Scrutiny of Special Purpose Revenue Bonds - Bond use is now more closely examined and the state's bond ratings are better protected because of closer Republican review of bond proposals that require two-thirds votes.
Environmental Protection - Republican initiative stopped a bill undermining county environmental protection and Republicans solidly supported a state plan to increase use of renewable energy.
It is obvious to observers of this past session that despite some successes, the majority largely gave lip service to the cause of reform. Republicans fight for true reform
Republicans are disappointed the Legislature:
Rejected Education Reform - The Democrats stopped all major education reform ideas including decentralizing the school board, taking principals out of the union, and even protecting Hawaii's feeble charter school effort. These concepts enjoy support from both major newspapers and the public knows Democrats offered no new structural proposals to reform Hawaii's education system. We will keep fighting to reform the Department of Education by insuring accountability and standards, decentralizing the school system, supporting true charter schools, and creating alternative schools or schools within schools for special needs students.
Failed to Boost Jobs - The 21st Legislature rejected all forms of job creating tax relief. Democrats kept the General Excise Tax on food, residential rent and medical services, while continuing to reject the Earned Income Tax Credit that is part of the Federal tax code. Hawaii needs tax relief to help us live here and to stimulate job-creating spending. The cost of living here is 23% above the national average. Elimination of the excise tax on food would be a major help to Hawaii's working people.
Kept Financing Big Government - The Democrats advanced more spending and a larger state government again this year. The general fund is up 12% in the coming year, 17% the next year. Democrats refuse to touch a base budget that is too big, and continue to add workers to the public payroll.
Restored Conference Committee Dictatorships - After progress was made last session to open conference committees to the public, the Democrats moved this year to restore anti-democratic veto power to conference committee chairs. Important measures sank without a trace because one legislative chair disliked them. This is un-Democratic.
Even with its setbacks, the new, Republican-influenced legislature demonstrated that the days of politics as usual are over. Republicans can rightly take much of the credit for successes enjoyed by this legislature. And we pledge next session will see even more changes, with more open government and more reform.
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