Flagpole Bill to be Called to House Floor Thursday: Rep. Pine uses rare procedure to keep bill alive
HONOLULU – On Thursday, February 18, at 12 p.m., Rep. Pine will use the rarest legislative procedure, a recall on the House Floor, to save the Flagpole Bill after Rep. Rida Cabanilla, 42nd (Ewa, Waipahu), refused to pass it out of her Housing Committee last week.
"On Tuesday, the House overwhelmingly supported House Bill 2197 which allows windmills to be installed in community associations so I believe it is time now to call to the floor House Bill 2311 which would allow residents to fly Americans flags within our homeowner communities," explained Rep. Pine.
Last year, the House overrode homeowner association rules by supporting similar legislation allowing clotheslines in housing developments. H.B. 2311 maintains homeowner association rules while allowing veterans and residents to honor the service and sacrifices of loved ones by erecting a flagpole on their properties.
H.B. 2311 was introduced by State Rep. Kymberly Pine, 43rd (Ewa Beach, Pu`uloa, Iroquois Point), in response to concerns from Iraq veteran and Retired MSgt, Harold Alejandro. He became very upset and contacted Rep. Pine he expressed frustrations in the obstacles he faced in trying to erect a flag.
"This bill would allow this humble veteran a small gesture to keeping the memory and sacrifice alive of two fallen heroes whom I had the privilege to serve alongside," explained Alejandro.
During Thursday's legislative session, February 16, H.B. 2311 will be recalled to the House Floor. The move will require 17 votes to recall it to the House Floor and 26 votes to keep it alive.
"We are asking all veterans and patriots to call their state representatives and join us on Thursday at the State Capitol to show their support for this important legislation." Rep. Pine stated.
Similar homeowner's association rules that hinder flag displays are being challenged across the country. In 2009, one Virginia association gained nationwide attention when it ordered Army Col. Van T. Barfoot, a 90-year-old recipient of the Purple Heart and the Medal of Honor, to remove the flagpole from his home.
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Mahalo Nui,
Michele Van Hessen
Aloha Friends and Veterans,
We need your help to defend our right to display the American Flag!
Please SHOW YOUR SUPPORT for House Bill 2311 on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 11:45am at the State Capitol Rotunda with your American Flags and patriotic signs and clothes.
Representative Kymberly Pine (43rd Ewa Beach, Pu`uloa, Iroquois Point) will introduce all supporters that attend before she recalls H.B. 2311 on the House Floor during session at 12 Noon on Thursday. You can read the bill at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2010/bills/HB2311_.htm
IT IS CRUCIAL THAT THE PUBLIC SEATING GALLERY IS FULL OF SUPPORTERS ON THURSDAY!
If you cannot attend please call your State Representative and tell him or her to support H.B. 2311, contact info can be found at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/house/members/members.asp
It allows home owners to erect flagpoles in community housing developments while preserving the authority of housing associations to regulate the size, condition, and location of the flag display. Housing Chair, Rep. Rida Cabanilla (42nd Ewa, Waipahu) has deferred the bill and it will die if it is not successfully recalled on Thursday, February 18, 2010.
Rep. Pine did not expect this to be a controversial bill because in 2009 the House passed a bill overriding housing association rules to allow residents to erect clotheslines and just today, the House supported a bill to allow windmills to be erected in housing associations.
Housing Chair, Rep. Rida Cabanilla (42nd Ewa, Waipahu), refuses to support this H.B. 2311 even though many of our loved ones are at war abroad and the bill does NOT cost the state any money. My priority is working hard to fix our education and economic crisis but I feel strongly that we must support the veterans in our community and throughout the state. Many of you have contacted me personally and they are extremely concerned by the inaction of our state legislature to address their rights to display the Flag.
H.B. 2311 does not interfere with housing associations because they can enforce "reasonable restrictions" regarding the type (Hawaii State or American Flags ONLY) sizes, locations, and conditions can be It is a simple gesture to allow veterans and families that lost loved ones to honor their sacrifices to our country.
Thank you for your support of this very important cause! Please join us on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 12 Noon at the State Capitol Rotunda with your flags and patriotic clothes. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Rep. Pine's office at 586-9730 or reppine@capitol.hawaii.gov.
We received great Media Coverage!
KGMB: http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=11953926.
Nationwide attention on the Rusty Humphries Show:
Last night, KITV featured the story: http://www.kitv.com/video/22575370/
Recent Star Bulletin Letter: http://www.starbulletin.com/editorials/20100211_Bill_would_liberate_flag-flyers_in_planned_communities.html
Thank you for your support of this important issue!
Kymberly Pine
State Representative
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