Majority Leader Marcus Oshiro said today Democrats in the State House of Representatives will direct the lion's share of their attention to economic diversification and recovery through greater investments in educational infrastructure, energy reforms, and business supports. Oshiro, in his opening statement of the 2002 Legislative Session, said the majority party will also work to clean-up campaign financing laws and address ethical issues raised when elected officials break the law.

House Speaker Calvin K. Y. Say used his opening statement to offer his vision of a Hawaii that could be if the Legislature and other governing bodies find the collective will to make some difficult decisions.

The ceremonies usually associated with the opening of the legislative session were largely dispensed with in the House out of respect for those still suffering from September 11 and because the nation remains on a war footing. "I think our caucus just felt it was inappropriate to throw a lavish party given our current situation and the challenges facing us. Most of them just said we should get to work on the problems," Oshiro said.

Oshiro prefaced his remarks by calling upon House members to do the right things, even if they are not necessarily popular. "Legislators must apply sound reason and rational judgment in their deliberations, and not drift with the winds of public opinion. It is always easy to say what’s popular. It is not always easy or popular to do what is right," he said.

He also urged the House to recognize that "we're all in this together" irrespective of political philosophies and therefore must diligently seek the common ground to achieve real solutions and not waste time arguing over our differences.

"…we must be truthful to our constituency and ourselves, and realize that he responsibility to make tough decision when necessary comes with the privilege of being a state legislator," he said.

House Democrats will continue to push for fiscal responsibility and moderation as outlined in the Majority Agenda last year, the first year of the fiscal biennium. Oshiro said the agenda has been modified to reflect the major changes since then, but at its heart remains the belief that government reforms must continue, the State's limited funds must be wisely invested, and any false expectations or misrepresentations about the State's condition must be corrected with the facts.

Oshiro cited the numerous false claims that Democrat officials have been spendthrifts. "According to none other than the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council, Hawaii state government spending was slower during the last 10 years than every other state in the nation except for Wyoming and Alaska," he said. "People need to get their facts straight."

Oshiro's speech underscored that House Democrats are fully prepared to proposed and support legislation designed to help Hawaii's economic recovery for the short term, to invest wisely in areas important to long term economic sustainability and diversification, and to clean up political campaigning.

House Democrats will also quickly address controversial stand-alone issues such as gambling and traffic cameras, but Oshiro said those issues shouldn't distract lawmakers from the true business at hand -- immediate recovery of the economy and long-term economic viability."

Oshiro said House Democrats will support the following:

• First, and foremost, ensure that all state law enforcement, medical, and emergency response personnel and agencies are provided with the necessary resources to protect Hawaii's people and visitors.
• Invest aggressively and prudently in a high-quality public education system as a pillar for long-term economic development.
• Transform governance in the Department of Education through decentralization of the existing statewide/district system into individual learning complexes that support students from pre-school through graduation.
• Increase public-private partnerships, beginning with a partnership with Kamehameha Schools to administer one or more charter schools in areas with a predominant Hawaiian population.
• Extend the life of the Joint Senate-House Investigative Committee on the Felix Consent Decree.
• Support reform of Hawaii's energy structure away from imported fossil fuels toward hydrogen.
• Encourage Senate approval of the House's campaign finance reform bill and propose firm sanctions for government officials who breach the public trust.
• Support automatic vote recount in close races.
• Reduce the cost of prescription drugs for all residents of Hawaii.
• Provide for a comprehensive review of the Hawaii Pre-Paid Health Care Act and mandated health benefits to ensure appropriate coverages and greater input from all affected parties, including employers.
• Establish a broadly representative commission to review and prioritize all state programs and functions and recommend to the Legislature appropriate actions for modification, consolidation, or elimination.
• Oppose increasing the State's debt by $1 billion in general obligation bonds.
• Implement the final phase of the $759 billion personal income tax cut.
• Maintain the schedule for ending the pyramiding effect of the general excise tax on intermediary services.
• Hold the line on any increases in taxes or fees.
• Ensure the integrity of the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund.
• Evaluate all State Special and Revolving Funds, discontinuing those that no longer meet established criteria, and applying any unused surpluses to balancing the State budget.

Speaker Calvin Say challenged House members to set the foundation now for his longer view of a healthy, sustainable Hawaii economy. His proposals included:

• Creating a Waikiki Authority, comprised of landowners, business, State and City governments, tourism specialists and residents to set the course for a total redevelopment of Waikiki into the crown jewel of Hawaiian tourism.
• Expand the University of Hawaii at Manoa down to South King Street to accommodate research into new technologies and with the full participation of existing tenants in the planning process toward developing the area into a viable college town.
• Establish a Hydrogen Energy Authority at the University of Hawaii - Hilo to lead the State in the research, development, and commercialization of hydrogen fuel technology and making Hawaii the centerpiece of hydrogen fuel development in the Pacific.
• Develop a Pacific Center for Ecosystem Sciences at the old Paradise Park site to serve as a catalyst for the stewardship of Hawaii's natural resources and also focus on scientific solutions to enviromental problems such as miconia, coqui tree frogs, dengue fever, and other invasive alien species.

"What all these proposals have in common is their ability to diversify our economic base and provide long-term job opportunities for our people," Say said.

The 2002 Legislative Session is scheduled to adjourn on May 2.

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