A New Day and a Debt Paid

Today lawmakers joined Governor Neil Abercrombie, Senator Daniel Akaka, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) trustees, and other state leaders for a bill signing ceremony enacting into law SB 2783, Relating to the Public Trust Lands, which resolves a long-standing dispute between the state and OHA over ceded-lands.

The law conveys certain parcels of Kakaako Makai lands from the state to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The conveyance of these properties fulfills the constitutional obligation to native Hawaiians and resolves all disputes and controversies relating to the portion of income and proceeds from the public land trust lands owed to OHA for the period between November 7, 1978 and June 30, 2012.




Quotable:

"Settling this longstanding issue was a top priority for me and for my Administration. This agreement that is now law, took a lot of hard work and collaboration. I appreciate all those who took the time to make this right, including the Legislature for making sure that all sides were heard." -- Gov. Neil Abercrombie (KITV)

 Chairwoman Machado, Speaker Say, Rep. Carroll

"The Board of Trustees is grateful to the Governor for his leadership in making this settlement a reality. We would also like to thank the Legislature for making this a priority and the Native Hawaiian Community and its leaders for their support of the bill." -- OHA Board of Trustees Chairwoman Colette Machado(KITV)

"The Kakaako community also deserves a lot of credit for its stewardship over this area. We are committed to making sure the land is used in a responsible way that will benefit the entire community. We will balance cultural and environmental considerations with the need to support programs that benefit the Native Hawaiian community." -- OHA Board of Trustees Chairwoman Colette Machado(KITV)

“A debt paid." -- OHA Board of Trustees Chairwoman Colette Machado (Civil Beat)

Lawmakers Listen with Rep. Jo Jordan

This past Wednesday, Rep. Jo Jordan welcomed House leadership to her community in Waianae for a Lawmakers Listen Town Hall Meeting. Speaker Calvin Say, Vice Speaker Joey Manahan, Majority Leader Pono Chong, Finance Chair Marcus Oshiro, Economic Revitalization & Business Chair Angus McKelvey, and Rep. Sharon Har made the trip to Oahu's leeward side. There was a strong turnout with 50 people from the Waianae area participating in the forum. Half of the attendees filled out a feedback form and their responses have been compiled here.

The meeting was an overwhelming success, showcasing the political awareness of the Waianae community. Questions and comments from the community members in attendance were insightful, relevant, and heart-felt. In addition to bringing up issues ranging from the proposed state bank to the OHA Kaka'ako land settlement, five individuals used the opportunity of having face time with lawmakers to personally thank Speaker Say for having a significant, positive impact on their lives.

It was a great night for the Waianae community as well as the House leadership who made it to Waianae District Park last Wednesday evening. 

Rep. Giugni Takes Oath of Office

Rep. Heather Giugni and Speaker Say

Newly appointed State Representative Heather Haunani Giugni was sworn in today during the House floor session.  Giugni was appointed by Governor Neil Abercrombie to fill the District 33 seat which covers Aiea, Halawa Valley, Halawa Heights, Aiea Heights, and Red Hill.  Former Representative Tom Okamura, who was previously appointed to the seat in January, stepped down last month unexpectedly due to illness.

"The House welcomes Heather Giugni and looks forward to working with the new representative for the 2012 legislative session," said House Speaker Calvin Say.  "Rep. Giugni has demonstrated her commitment to the community through her work in media, political and cultural projects.  I believe she will bring an interesting and valuable perspective to the legislature."

Rep. Giugni can be reached at 808-586-6340 or by email at repgiugni@capitol.hawaii.gov.  Her office is located in Room 324 of the Hawaii State Capitol.

"808 Boyz" Win NFL Flag Football National Championship

Speaker Say joined Governor Abercrombie in congratulating the 2012 NFL Flag Football National Champions, Palolo's "808 Boyz." This marks the first Flag Football National Championship for Hawai'i. In honor of the team's accomplishments, the governor issues a proclamation declaring January 31, 2012 "808 Boyz Day."

Despite entering the final round of tournament competition with an undefeated record, the Boyz were given the 6th seed. Battling back against continental bias, the Boyz defeated the defending national champions from Florida in the semi-finals before dismantling a team from Cincinnati to win the championship. The team members are Jayden De Laura, Andrei Iosivas, Ka'ua Nishigaya, Noali Nishigaya, Rocky Ramones, Zachary Sagayaga, and Noa Schachtel. Coaches Jacob De Laura, Myles Nishigaya, and Edgar Sagayaga helped the Boyz make history. The championship game will air April 1 on ESPN and April 15 on ESPN2. Congratulations to the "808 Boyz." Hawai'i is proud of your hard work, perseverance, and accomplishment.

   

House Decorum

Civil Beat ran a story today about HB2751, a bill which proposes to "create the offense of disrespect of a house of the legislature for disorderly or contemptuous behavior by a person who is not a member of the legislature.

Civil Beat's question to Speaker Calvin Say was whether the intent of the bill was a reaction to the recent complaints by Mitch Kahle, the protester who is against the legislature holding invocations (what he considers unconstitutional prayer) at the capitol.  Kahle was arrested in the Senate chamber for disorderly conduct and was acquitted.  Kahle has subsequently sued the state and the Senate.

Speaker Say responded that the bill is not directed at any particular individual and is intended to provide clarification to existing House rules on the matter of disruption caused by any person.  Here is his full response:

HB 2751 is intended to assist in the maintenance of order and decorum during legislative sessions and committee hearings.  The bill applies to the disruption caused by any person, no matter the person's reason for the disruption or viewpoint on any issue.  It is not directed at any particular individual.

HB 2751 is a product of the House leadership's discussion of disruptions that occurred in the House and Senate chambers in the recent past.  During the discussion, House leadership and staff determined that the policies and procedures for keeping order in the House chambers and committee rooms during sessions and hearings may need clarification.  HB 2571 is intended to provide the clarification.

A companion bill, SB 3026, has been introduced in the Senate.

Kung Hee Fat Choy

Meeting the Press on Opening Day

Before reconvening the Hawaii Legislature, Speaker Calvin Say and Majority Leader Pono Chong met with reporters to talk about the legislative agenda this year. See what they had to say by visiting the links below:

Speaker on KITV.
Majority Leader on Hawaii News Now.

Later, after the Opening Day Session ended, Finance Chair Marcus Oshiro and Speaker Calvin Say answered reporters' questions on a variety of issues including fee increases, expediting construction projects, EUTF, unfunded liability, public workers' contracts, gambling, exemptions for procurement, reapportionment, revising the TAT, and the coffee beetle bug problem.

Watch the interviews below:

Rep. Marcus Oshiro, chair of the House Committee on Finance, fields questions from reporters on the economy, public workers contracts, EUTF, and unfunded liability. Oshiro spoke with reporters after the House opened the 2012 Legislation Session on January 18.

Rep. Marcus Oshiro tells reporters how important it is to get bills passed that will help get our construction projects underway in a timely manner. It's a win-win situation, he says. People can get back to work, business for vendors and necessary improvements can be made to our schools, our court houses, our hospitals, etc.

Speaker Calvin Say of the Hawaii House of Representatives fields question from reporters on a variety of issues including the coffee beetle bug problem, fee increases, gambling, procurement exemptions, reapportionment, and possible revisions to the Transient Accommodation Tax.

Opening Day 2012

Like last year's Opening Day, the start of the 27th Hawai'i State Legislature was not ushered in with much fanfare. The brevity of speeches and lack of lavish food spreads and entertainment reflects the financial austerity that has resulted from the Great Recession. Despite being a low-key event taking place while the economy is still recovering, the Aloha Spirit was alive and well in the capitol. Recently appointed Rep. Tom Okamura's return to the House floor certainly added to the positive tone of the day.

In his opening remarks, Speaker Say stated the goals for the session: to maintain a steady, gradual economic recovery, while not increasing the burden on the people and businesses of Hawai'i. The Speaker conceded that while lawmakers would like to make our state energy independent and provide affordable healthcare and housing to everyone, our economic reality puts these goals out of reach for the current session. While we are fortunate not to be facing a budget crisis as we have for the past three sessions, the state's financial future is still not secure. Although it may not make for the most interesting news headline, the looming burden of funding public employees' retirement and health fund systems must be resolved to prevent catastrophe for future generations.

Despite the serious work ahead in the session, the atmosphere in the House was upbeat, positive, and convivial. Opening Day presents an opportunity for constituents - as well as lobbyists - to access Representatives, talk story, and have a bite to eat. The capitol has many new faces, including my own, and the returning members and staffers were warm, friendly, and more than welcoming.

January 18, 2012 was an Opening Day with abbreviated, but pleasantly appropriate celebration that, hopefully, is a reflection of the legislative session it convened. Budget crisis and an increased burden on taxpayers may be a thing of the past, but we are by no means out of the water yet. Building off of its realistically grounded optimism, the 27th Hawai'i State Legislature will hopefully maintain the recovery of this fragile economy while laying the foundation for a bright future for Hawai'i.

Opening Day Remarks from Speaker Calvin Say

Speaker of the House Calvin K.Y. Say
OPENING DAY REMARKS
January 18, 2012

Welcome members to the 2012 Regular Session of the Twenty-Sixth Legislature.

And a special welcome to our recently appointed member -- Representative Tom Okamura of District 33, Aiea, Halawa, and Red Hill.

I am glad -- and relieved -- to say that we will probably not have to make another extraordinary effort to balance the state budget during this session.

This situation will be a welcome departure from the past three sessions. Because of the Great Recession, we had to balance the state budget by a combination of painfully difficult expenditure reductions and targeted revenue enhancements. We maintained essential public services without increasing the general excise tax rate or the income tax on low- and moderate-income persons.

We rejected extremism and expediency in favor of reason and fortitude.

We took a balanced and responsible approach.

Hawaii is much better for our efforts. I commend you all.

The economic recovery, although still fragile, is on its way.

We, however, must remain cautious. The fragility of the economic recovery requires the continuation of our balanced and responsible approach during the 2012 regular session. For the short-term, we must maintain stability with respect to the state budget.

"Maintaining stability" means no new taxes for state government from residents and businesses.

"Maintaining stability" means no major general fund appropriation increase for the expansion of state programs.

For this session, we must focus our efforts on maintaining the economic recovery and promoting immediate job growth. We must be creative and innovative. We must make difficult choices, some of which may be opposed by segments of the community.

We must seek ways to expedite the construction of state projects, so that money flows into the community.

We also must seek ways to avoid mandates on businesses that increase their costs.

I am confident that we will make these choices using the same balanced and responsible approach of the past three sessions.

Our recovery effort depends on a strong, solid foundation. Maintaining a foundation today will enable us to pursue our dreams in the future.

Dreams such as:

--- a Hawaii powered exclusively by alternative energy resources, requiring no export of dollars.

--- a Hawaii with broadband coverage for all schools, businesses, and homes.

--- a Hawaii in which health care is universally and affordably available.

--- a Hawaii in which everyone lives in an affordable home, paying no more than one-third of their income for the rent or mortgage.

And dreams of a Hawaii with a thriving and diversified economy.

This means a Hawaii with a military presence that is fully appreciated for its importance to our nation's and Pacific allies' defense and our State's economy and social mix;

--- a Hawaii with a visitor industry that continues to be the envy of the world;

--- a Hawaii in which agriculture is a viable and sustaining enterprise that feeds our people, supports alternative energy, and exports products;

--- and a Hawaii with a public education system that produces business, professional, and governmental leaders able to effectively guide our State in the future, and even lead the world in selected areas of expertise.

More mundane, but still very important, is my dream of public employees' retirement and health fund systems with no unfunded liability, so that our children and grandchildren do not have to carry the burden of increasing governmental fringe benefit contributions.

I have many such dreams, as do all of you. Fulfilling the dreams, however, would require the expenditure of substantial taxpayers' moneys -- moneys that we do not have now.

Despite this intrusion of reality, let us not abandon our dreams. Let us continue the groundwork for the achievement of the dreams. Later, when the economy and public resources return to robust growth, we will then have the opportunity for full implementation.

Let us be confident that our unselfish work of today will lead tomorrow to the Hawaii that we all dream about.

Thank you.

Speaker Say: Reflections on the Session

The following commentary appeared on Civil Beat. Click here for entire post. You may have to be a subscriber to Civil Beat to see the end notations.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit this commentary about the Regular Session of 2011.

My discussion focuses on the difficult decisions made by the Legislature to balance the state budget. I attempt to explain and defend the actions of the Legislature, particularly the House of Representatives.

Comprehensive Public Employees' Retirement System Reform

Before proceeding with the main substance, I would like to offer my prediction of what will ultimately be deemed the most important measure passed by the 2011 Legislature. This measure received relatively little publicity or media coverage during the session. Consequently, my emphasis on it may be surprising, a departure from conventional commentaries that trumpet more tangible, publicly appealing, and media friendly accomplishments. Yet, this measure in my estimation represents a significant pivot point in the future of Hawaii.

House Bill No. 1038 comprehensively reforms the public employees' retirement system benefit, contribution, and service provisions for public employees hired after June 30, 2012. HB 1038 has immediate beneficial impacts, resulting in cost savings to public employers of $54 million in fiscal year 2011-12 and $92 million in fiscal year 2012-13. More importantly, HB 1038 is intended to limit future increases of public employer contributions for the system and prevent such contributions from assuming greater and greater portions of the State's and counties' operating budgets. Because of the bill, Hawaii should be able to avoid public employee pension crises such as those currently experienced by California and other states. Future taxpayers will gain the most benefit from HB 1038, a far reaching piece of legislation.

The most credit for passage of HB 1038 should go to the Employees' Retirement System Board of Trustees and Executive Director, who initiated the measure, and Governor Abercrombie who fully supported it.

Beginning Co-Equal Priorities

The main substance of this commentary is the Legislature's actions toward achieving the two co-equal priorities I had submitted to you before the 2011 session convened.

One priority is to maintain the economic recovery and job growth. The other priority is to pass a balanced state budget that funds essential public health, safety, and education services without a general excise tax increase and without another mass state employee layoff. As of this writing, the State faces a budget gap of between $800 and $900 million over this and the next two fiscal years.

The Legislature was successful in achieving the latter priority, but less so regarding the first. The primary reason for the difference in success was the reality of the state budget crisis, which worsened as the session progressed. The lack of available revenues prevented the Legislature from funding tax credits or employment programs needed for immediate job opportunities.¹

Balancing the Budget -- Balanced Approach

After session began, the commonly acknowledged general fund budget shortfall was estimated to be a little more than $800 million over three years. The shortfall was based on the Council on Revenues general revenue projection of December 29, 2010. Subsequent projections, however, substantially lowered the anticipated revenue, resulting in an exacerbation of the shortfall by another $500+ million.²

Faced with a $1.3 billion general fund shortfall in late March/early April, the Legislature took a balanced approach to resolving the problem.

First, to address the immediate shortfall of about $200 million in this current fiscal year 2010-11, the Legislature transferred $16 million from non-general funds to the general fund, appropriated $40 million in rainy day funds and $42 million in hurricane relief funds, and authorized the Governor to utilize another $75 in hurricane relief funds if necessary. Those legislative actions, along with restrictions and contract cancellations by the Administration, were deemed sufficient to resolve the problem for this current fiscal year.

Next, for the fiscal biennium 2011-13, the Legislature both reduced appropriations and raised revenues, the same balanced approach taken during the past two years. Requested appropriations were reduced by about $618 million. Revenue enhancements, such as tax exemption suspensions, tax deduction limitations, fee increases, and non-general fund transfers, totaled about $660 million.³ In general, the revenue enhancement measures were focused on generating revenue from higher-income persons, visitors, and special interests.

The Legislature acted responsibly, avoiding the positions advocated by extremists on both ends of the political spectrum. Contrary to what some may believe, the Legislature did not solely raise taxes to balance the budget. Nor did the Legislature rely solely on spending cuts that would have decimated public services. Neither did the Legislature resort to tax refund delays to "kick the budget can" down the road as was done by the past Administration.

I am confident that the state budget passed by the Legislature does indeed fund essential public health, safety, and education services.

Obviously, the Legislature would have liked to appropriate more funds for lower and higher education, social services, economic development, and other worthwhile public services. Doing so, however, would have required the raising of substantial taxes, resulting in diverting more capital from the private sector than conducive to economic recovery.

Absence of General Excise Tax Rate Increase/Suspension of Certain General Excise Tax Exemptions

Very important from my perspective, the Legislature was able to balance the state budget without a general excise tax rate increase.

As the major revenue generating alternative to such a rate increase, the Legislature passed SB 754. The bill suspends the general excise tax exemptions for certain persons and activities for two years. Basically, SB 754 promotes fairness and raises revenue in a manner less detrimental to the economy than a general excise tax rate increase.⁴

Absence of Pension Tax

The state budget also was balanced without imposing a tax on pensions, one of the revenue enhancement options initially proposed by the Administration.

The House did pass a bill imposing a tax on the pensions of higher-income taxpayers exclusively. It, however, failed in the Senate. Under the bill, the pension of only the following would have been taxed:

(1) A married person filing jointly with an income of $200,000 or more;

(2) A head of household with an income of $150,000 or more; or

(3) A person filing an individual return with an income of $100,000 or more.

Persons with less than those income levels would not have been taxed. This point was not adequately communicated by the media.

Despite unfair criticism, I believe that the House took the right course and displayed political courage in considering and fully discussing the issue.⁵

Economic Recovery and Jobs

To achieve the priority of immediate job growth, I had introduced bills to provide tax credits for new employees, curtail business tax deductions not directly related to employment, and utilize temporarily special funds for public service employment programs (such as using the legacy land special fund for conservation employment rather than property purchases). None of those bills passed, however, because the state funds necessary for the programs had to be channeled instead to balance the budget.

Nevertheless, the Legislature did lay the groundwork for continuing economic recovery.

At the initiation of the Governor, the Legislature in HB 200 appropriated $1.8 billion in fiscal year 2011-12 and $1.0 billion in fiscal year 2012-13 for capital improvement projects. The appropriations will serve the dual purposes of improving infrastructure and providing jobs.⁶

Much was accomplished for the promotion of renewable energy, an area promising for economic development and necessary for reducing the export of dollars for fossil fuel purchases.⁷ For example, SB 1347 permits the spreading of renewable energy costs among a public utility's affiliates and ratepayers. Although the bill did not receive as much attention as SB 367, the undersea cable bill (which failed), SB 1347 has the potential for accelerating renewable energy development, particularly on the neighbor islands.

The Legislature also passed HB 1342, which provides for expediting of permits for broadband infrastructure, and HB 677, which requires the establishment of a food safety and security program for local farmers to enable sale of their produce. Both, hopefully, will set foundations for the telecommunication and agriculture industries to evolve and grow.

Governor Abercrombie's Leadership

Finally, I would like to acknowledge Governor Abercrombie for his leadership during the session. He was in the forefront, leading the effort to resolve the budget crisis and enact structural fringe benefit and tax reforms. Although he has been criticized by some for lack of success, I would disagree. By personal example, he showed courage and fortitude in attempting to achieve an ambitious agenda. To me, there is much more worth in a person who tries to reach many difficult goals, thereby heightening the risk of failure, rather than one who espouses few "easy" goals, thereby ensuring a pale "success". Governor Abercrombie, with his "New Day" leadership, is clearly the former.

---

About the Author: Representative Calvin K.Y. Say currently serves as the Speaker of the Hawaii State House of Representatives. Speaker Say is the first Chinese-American to serve as a Chamber Speaker.

Elected President of the National Speaker's Conference by his House (Assembly) Speaker colleagues across the nation in 1999, Speaker Say is now a senior member of the organization, and is nationally recognized as an expert on State budget issues and fiscal challenges.

Say & Tsutsui on Gov's 2011 State of the State

Fragile Recovery Requires Proven Leadership

Speaker Calvin Say's editorial on Civil Beat: Fragile Recovery Requires Proven Leadership

Pro-Business Legislators

The September issue of Hawaii Business Magazine is all about "Seeking the Business Vote". One of the stories focuses on the Hawaii State Legislature and a recent survey of business leaders on which legislators are the most business-friendly. Read the story, written by long-time political observer and former Honolulu Advertiser political reporter/editorial page editor Jerry Burris, here.

Three members of the House majority were included in the "frequently named" category: House Speaker Calvin Say, Rep. Bob Herkes, and Speaker Emeritus Joe Souki.

Photo: Hawaii Business Magazine. Speaker Say and Carol Pregill, President of the Retail Merchants of Hawaii

Another story of interest in the same issue is "SmallBiz Guide to Power" - all about using business and trade organizations to participate in the legislative process and to make sure your voice is heard. Most small businesses don't have the time or ability to come down to the legislature to testify and visit lawmakers. These organizations all have government affairs or some sort of government advocacy program through which business owners can work on issues important to them.

MidWeek Hot Shots

Photo and Story: Midweek

The Hawaii Crop Improvement Association recently honored state House Speaker Calvin Say (center) and state Rep. Clift Tsuji (right), chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, with the 2010 BIO Co-Legislators of the Year award. The lawmakers were recognized by the Biotechnology Industry Organization for their leadership and support of the agricultural biotechnology industry in Hawaii. Pictured with them (from left) are Fred Perlak, president, HCIA; Laurie Goodwin, president-elect, HCIA; and Adolph Helm, HCIA.

Gov. Lingle playing politics with federal spending bill

"Gov. Linda Lingle's criticism of the emergency $26 billion jobs bill signed by President Barack Obama on Tuesday is a sad statement that puts her political agenda above helping Hawaii's residents.

First, the bill will support classroom education in Hawaii. We always talk about the importance of education, and when we are being given funds to build and improve education, the governor responds with unproductive criticisms.

Second, we are getting necessary funds to improve access to provide basic health care for low-income and disabled residents.

Third, the bill injects money from out of state into our local economy.

Last, the bill is deficit neutral. Congress made difficult decisions to cut money from other programs to fund this bill.

Gov. Lingle talks about the need to tackle the federal deficit, but she does nothing to urge Congress to rescind the Bush tax cuts for the most wealthy upper 2 or 3 percent of income earners.

The economic recovery and job growth remain fragile. Continuation will require responsible, reliable and effective leadership that seeks positive, balanced solutions."

Rep. Calvin Say, speaker of the House
Rep. Blake Oshiro, House majority leader
Rep. Marcus Oshiro, House finance chairman

This letter was printed in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser 8-13-10

Speaker Say and Ag Chair Tsuji named BIO Co-Legislators of the Year

Congratulations to Speaker Calvin Say and Rep. Clift Tsuji for being named Co-Legislators of the Year by BIO, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, based in Washington, D.C.

Hawaii maintains a $200 million seed crop industry, and the state's agricultural biotech sector employs about 2,000 people statewide.

From the press release:

"Both Speaker Say and Rep. Tsuji understand and embrace the benefits of biotechnology and recognize its important role in fostering the growth of ag commodites like seed corn, soybean, sunflowers and cotton. Their individual business expertise and understanding of the issues critical to the agriculture industry have benefitted the people of Hawaii tremendously," said Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of BIO.

Both Rep. Tsuji, who currently serves as Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture, and Speaker Say, a previous Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture, have demonstrated consistent leadership and support for agricultural biotechnology as a means of creating a more abundant and reliable food supply by increasing crop yields, enhancing resistance to pests and diseases, and enabling farmers to grow crops in a more environmentally sustainable way.

BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.

Be cool

Richard Borreca's column On Politics in the Star-Advertiser today focused on Speaker of the House Calvin Say. Here it is...

From civil unions to taxes, Calvin Say keeps his cool

With an unassuming, quiet manner, Calvin Say, packing 34 years of legislative experience, shows little until the outcome is obvious.

Using the premise that flashing an agenda too early just makes you a target, Say is most comfortable in the caucus room without the spotlights.

After 11 years as speaker of the House, Say rarely brags, so his new self-assessment is worth noting.

"If people are mad at you, you must be doing something right, you touched a nerve," Say said in an interview last week.

Mad at you, indeed. This year is likely to be Say's most controversial.

It started with both those advocating and fighting a civil union bill fuming at Say because he refused to allow a recorded vote on a motion to kill the bill.

The action was forgotten by the end of the session when the bill's supporters were able to get the votes to bring the bill back for consideration and passage.

The "Impeach Calvin Say" Facebook page had already been started.

Meanwhile, more politically potent foes were gathering.

Say has consistently opposed raising the general excise tax, saying it hurts not just consumers, but business as well.

The public worker unions look at a GET increase as a big help. The increased money is needed to stop layoffs, stop furloughs and help pay increased benefits for workers, the unions argue.

Speaking for himself, J.N. Musto, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly executive director, sums up labor's disenchantment with Say.

"He is particularly harsh on public employees, and he truly believes they are overpaid and over compensated," says Musto.

In the last four years, Say has repeatedly tried to lower public employee benefits as a way to cut the state budget. Unions turned out in force to fight and kill the Say bills.

"He truly believes such bills should pass. After all of that, he then expects the unions to pay tribute. I think it's time to stop doing that," Musto concludes.

Say claims he doesn't know "why labor should be upset."

As a reliable helmsman, Say helped steer the union's own pay settlements through the Legislature, but this year when they wanted assistance with raising taxes, Say refused.

This year, Say appears to have a strong Democratic opponent, Dwight Synan, who, if he doesn't get an outright labor endorsement, will benefit from labor not endorsing Say.

In the larger view, Say's re-election is not just about Say, but about changing the direction of the House away from the anti-GET increase stance it has held in past years.

PROGRESSIVE, pro-labor members of the Senate have clamored for a GET increase.

Opponents have been able to kill it only because they could argue that "it would never pass the House."

Say frames the campaign and the organization of the House as "If not Calvin, then who?"

This fall, voters in Say's working class Palolo-St. Louis district will find themselves answering with results that could set state tax policy far into the future.

Hey cats, here's someone else who keeps his cool...

Speaker Say's Memo to House Members on No Special Session to Override Vetoed Bills

Today House Speaker Calvin Say sent a memo to all House members about the decision not to call the House of Representatives into special session to override Governor Linda Lingle's vetoes.

In the memo, Speaker Say notes that "the legislature had good justification for passing them (bills)," but through discussion with the House majority members he concluded that "no absolute imperative or exigent reason exists to override any of the vetoes of the bills on the list.."

The memo explains in detail the four reasons why the bills did not warrant an override and gives special mention to the two education bills (HB2377 and HB2376) for an appointed Board of Education.

You can read, share and link to the memo here.

House Not Calling for Special Session to Override Vetoes

Speaker Calvin Say today announced that he would not call the House of Representatives into special session on July 6, 2010 to override Governor Linda Lingle's vetoes. The state constitution authorizes the Legislature to convene a special session by noon 45 days following the end of regular session – the final day that the Governor has to veto any previously passed bills.
Speaker Say, in concurrence with members of House Leadership, cited four considerations for deciding why the bills on the governor’s veto list did not warrant an override, including:

• The bill does not appear to have the requisite two-thirds vote in both chambers necessary to override a veto;

• The bill does not rise to a sufficient level of statewide concern to warrant the extraordinary action of a legislative override;

• The Governor's preliminary objections to the bill have sufficient merit deserving of further evaluation;

• Although the bill was intended to enhance state revenue to balance the budget when passed during the session, it is now no longer necessary because of the Council on Revenue's improved revenue projection.

"It's my personal belief that simply because we have the legislative super-majority to override is not justification for us to do so. Partisan politics should not be a consideration or basis for any policy decision. The House should be proud of the work accomplished during the regular session – including balancing the state's budget without increasing the general excise tax, without increasing income taxes on low- and moderate-income families, and without scooping the counties’ hotel tax share," said Speaker Calvin Say.

On June 21, 2010 the Governor released to the Legislature her list of 39 bills that were intended for veto. The list included bills on public safety, civil union, homelessness, education and more.

Civil Unions and the Courts

This is an excerpt from the press conference video recorded on Monday, 6/21/10. It pertains to the topic of how the civil unions issue may play out based on judicial rulings on the state or federal level. Featured are Majority Leader, Rep. Blake Oshiro and Speaker of the House, Rep. Calvin Say talking with Hawaii journalists.