Lawmakers discuss possible overrides

Members of the House and Senate are currently meeting privately to discuss whether they will override any of the 41 bills vetoed by Gov. Linda Lingle on the last day before the bills would have become law without her signature.

The vetoes include measures related to workers' compensation, invasive species, permanent absentee voting and electronic device recycling.

For more information on Special Session 2008, visit the Hawaii State Legislature website.

You can also access a list of all vetoed bills and veto messages here.

Voices Heard

A number of caregivers, Kupuna advocates, care home operators and their patients rallied yesterday at the State Capitol in support of SB2830, widely known as The Caregiver Bill. Joined by Reps. John Mizuno, Rida Cabanilla, Joey Manahan and other lawmakers, the troop of over thirty supporters ardently chanted toward the rooftop of the State Capitol, urging Gov. Linda Lingle to sign their bill. The measure was one of 52 bills on the Governor's intent-to-veto list.

"SIGN OUR BILL. SIGN OUR BILL. SIGN OUR BILL."

Those words reverberated through the Capitol as the group waved their signs condemning a veto of a bill that would effectuate the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Committee on Family Caregiving, including:

(1) Extends the sunset date of the Joint Legislative Committee on Family Caregiving;

(2) Changes the name of the committee to the Joint Legislative Committee on Aging in Place (Committee);

(3) Expands the Committee mandate to include aging in place issues related to family caregiving;
(4) Requires the Aging and Disability Resource Center to report to the Committee;

(5) Requires the Committee to conduct a cash and counseling project;

(6) Appropriates funds to the Committee;

(7) Allows the Kupuna Care Program to include overnight, weekend, and emergency respite services and provide grants to caregivers for home modification;

(8) Appropriates funds for a respite care study;

(9) Appropriates funds to the Kupuna Care Program; and

(10) Establish a task force to focus on the needs and issues of grandparents raising grandchildren.

It appears that their voices were heard.

The Governor signed the bill into law yesterday with a line item veto that eliminates the $500,000 appropriation to the Kupuna Care Program (number 9 above).

You can read the Governor's veto message here.

TRN/FIN welcome testifiers, including Gov. Lingle

The House Transportation/Finance committee joint hearing on the Senate version of the Superferry legislation (SB1, SD1) is currently underway in the Capitol auditorium.

Gov. Lingle spoke briefly and will remain to answer questions from committee members starting at 3 p.m., along with other testifiers including Superferry CEO John Garibaldi and First Deputy Attorney General Lisa M. Ginoza.

Earlier in the day, Finance Chair Marcus Oshiro sent a letter to Gov. Lingle requesting her presence at the hearing, especially to respond to testifiers' concerns last week about her willingness and ability to establish conditions and protocols "to mitigate significant environmental effects" of the ferry, as is stated in the current legislation.

Kauai County Council member JoAnn Yukimura also testified, expressing her concerns that the Superferry would threaten Hawaii's environment statewide and could change the character of the neighbor islands. Yukimura also offered her support for elements of the amendment proposed by Rep. Hermina Morita on Friday which included reducing the ferry's speed in waters of a certain depth and requiring the vessel to do an undercarriage wash before sailing.

Watch the hearing live on 'Olelo, Ch. 49.