WHEREAS, it is the responsibility and moral duty of the Hawaii State Legislature to provide for the general welfare of State of Hawaii residents; and

WHEREAS, it is the duty of the Hawaii State Legislature to ensure the protection of all people, especially those from disadvantaged and marginalized populations; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Legislature realizes that many of the social problems that are currently being addressed in legislation including, but not limited to, affordable housing, homelessness, and access to health care are caused by the persistence of income, wealth, and social inequalities in our great State; and

WHEREAS, it is the duty of the Hawaii State Legislature to promote the economic well-being of its people while ensuring that this wealth and prosperity is shared equally among all Hawaii residents; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature is committed to attacking fundamental root causes of these priority social problems such as homelessness, affordable housing, and access to health care; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that the Legislature recognizes its fiduciary role in providing for the general welfare of all its people while working in cooperation with Hawaii's Congressional delegation, the Governor, community groups, and the individuals of Hawaii regarding the detrimental effects of increased income, wealth, and social inequalities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature will discuss and address the impact that each bill has on the overall income, wealth, and social inequalities in our State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature will accept for passage only those legislative actions that either minimize income, wealth, and social inequalities or have no material impact on these inequalities to ensure that our great State of Hawaii remains an enjoyable, affordable, and healthy place to live for all of our residents; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor of the State of Hawaii and to the members of Hawaii's congressional delegation.

Report Title:

General Welfare; Social Equality