July 7, 2010 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

July 7, 2010 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 11:26 AM :: 5031 Views

WaPo: Charles Djou: Incumbent, underdog

Hanabusa' candidacy is good news for him, insisted Djou. "Yes; no qualification," Djou said. "With Ed, he's a Blue Dog. Drawing contrasts on the issues would have been more challenging for me."

Regardless of his opponent, Djou's margin for error is almost nonexistent in a two-way race. He is running in a historically left-leaning district in which Democrats took nearly 60 percent of the vote in the May special election.

At the same time, it's perhaps not as liberal as some in the press assumed in the runup to the special election.

The seat, which is dominated by the city of Honolulu, has a strong military presence and plenty of high-income voters; it went for Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in the 2004 presidential race by just 6 points. While the state's politics are heavily Democratic, voters there will vote for a Republican with the right profile - i.e. someone like Djou or Gov. Linda Lingle (R) who carried it in 2002 and 2006.

They will also routinely send politicians back to the offices to which they have been elected -- a voting pattern that works in Djou's favor.

"Hawaii has never kicked out an incumbent member of Congress in the history of the state," Djou pointed out. "And I have absolutely no plans of being the first."

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Borreca: Consequences of HB 444 will be felt at the ballot box

Former Rep. Annelle Amaral remembers how she had inflamed her opponents.

"I had all the Christians out with signs saying I voted for same-sex marriage and not to vote for me," Amaral says. She admits, however, that she was already viewed as "that mouthy broad on women's issues" and that "they wouldn't have voted for me anyway."

Even so, Amaral says the impact at the ballot box could be huge.

"Conservative groups are incredibly strong. The churches are already organized," she said.

Legislators show up in case of Special Session

Conflicting eyewitness reports put anywhere from seven or eight to over 20 lawmakers outside the House chamber.

“We felt that we had an obligation to convene and consider the actual bills being vetoed,” said state Rep. Scott Saiki, (D-Moiliili, McCully, Kaimuki), a House dissident.

Over on the state Senate side, Senate Democrats met in private caucus and were also ready to convene. “We thought it was important that we demonstrate our willingness to consider overrides,” state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa (D-Nanakuli, Makaha), said in a statement. “While we cannot convene without the House, we were ready to convene if the opportunity arose.”

KITV: Pro-Civil Union Groups Plan Lawsuit

Within a month or so, the ACLU and the gay-rights group Lambda Legal plan to file suit in circuit court, hoping to force the state to allow civil unions.

"We are standing ready to file that lawsuit in short order to ensure that LGBT families in Hawaii are provided equal rights and benefits. To be sure, the Hawaii Constitution already provides that and we're going to make sure that the courts agree with us," said Lois Perrin, legal director of ALCU Hawaii.

"We have a number of plaintiffs that we'll be looking at, who need protection, especially now that the governor has not provided any equal protection for them. These are families and couples," said Loren Javier, western regional director for Lambda Legal. The potential plaintiffs come from across the state, he said.

The lawsuit could take months and possibly years to work its way through the legal system, Perrin said.

Gay groups react to veto of HB444

Jo-Ann Adams, GLBT Caucus, Hawaii Democratic Party: “We are determined, no matter how many sessions and election cycles it takes, to achieve full recognition for our families.”

ALSO: Rea Carey, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Rev. Carolyn M. Golojuch, PFLAG-Oahu, Tara O’Neill, Pride Alliance Hawaii, Joe Solmonese, Human Rights Campaign, Alan Spector, Equality Hawaii, Evan Wolfson, Freedom to Marry

Rex Wockner: Hawaii governor vetoes civil union bill

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Lingle vetoes civil-unions bill

"Very, very disappointed," said state House Majority Leader Blake Oshiro (D, Aiea-Halawa Valley-Aiea Heights), the bill's sponsor, who is gay. "I don't believe that ultimately this is an issue that needs to be put on the ballot. I think it's a civil-rights issue. And so, we'll just have to wait and see how this all shakes up after the next election."

CB: Lingle Dodges Civil Unions Issue

Huh? She just vetoed it. Mufi is the one who is dodging the issue. This line of reasoning makes sense only if one falls for the absurd idea that Civil Unions are a civil rights issue. CB is unable to see thru the veil of is own prejudice.

REALITY: Full Text: Hannemann again refuses to take position on HB444

Shapiro: What happens next on Civil Unions depends on November Election

What happens next on civil unions depends a lot on the outcome of the November election.

If opponents of HB 444 manage to take out a few Democratic lawmakers who voted for it, or if the issue has a measurable impact in statewide races, we won’t likely see this bill again for a few years.

But if all the legislators who voted for it easily survive any challenges, and if candidates friendly to HB 444 do well in statewide races, there’s no reason why Democratic lawmakers won’t pass it again next year — perhaps by a veto-proof majority.

Who is elected to succeed Lingle also matters, of course. Aiona would never sign a civil unions bill, while Neil Abercrombie would relish an opportunity to enact it into law. Mufi Hannemann has tap-danced around taking a stance on HB 444, apparently trying to position himself to the right of Abercrombie in the Democratic primary, but to the left of Aiona if he makes it to the general election.

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HB444: Maui Time prepares two cover images

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Salary cap bill among 29 rejected by Lingle

The proposal required the governor to appoint members, subject to Senate confirmation, from a list provided by a selection committee. The process is similar to that for the University of Hawaii Board of Regents.

Lingle said the bill is too narrow in focus and could lead to special-interest groups having greater numbers on the selection committee and more influence in the process.

Senate President Colleen Hanabusa said the rejection of the bill means if voters approve the amendment, the Legislature would have to fast-track the enabling legislation at the start of the 2011 session.

Hanabusa said she was most disappointed in the governor's veto of Senate Bill 2849, a measure aimed at improving efficiency and accountability within the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund.

Group petitions against fare hikes: Yoshioka calls bus fare ‘a bargain’

About eight people, including youths from the Boys and Girls Club, collected signatures from bus riders yesterday at a stop on Kapiolani Boulevard fronting Walgreens in Ala Moana.

The group represents members of 24 churches. Each church will adopt a nearby bus stop to collect signatures for the petition calling for Mayor Mufi Hannemann to reconsider the fare increase.

FACE and Wayne Yoshioka, city director of the Department of Transportation Services, said they want to schedule a meeting to discuss the issue. "We know the bus fare is a bargain," Yoshioka said.

Ilind speaks up on behalf of Mollway

HPR audio…

Abercrombie Special Election cost 'only' $670,000

Former congressman Neil Abercrombie’s campaign advisers have been sensitive about the cost of the special election for Congress in May, which was triggered by Abercrombie’s decision to resign early to concentrate on his campaign for governor.

Not only did Abercrombie open the door for the Republican Charles Djou to claim urban Honolulu’s 1st Congressional District, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann and other Abercrombie critics have alleged, but Abercrombie also cost the state about $1 million during a budget crisis….