Hawaii GOP's Wish List At The Ledge

Chad Blair/Civil Beat

There is only one Republican in the 25-member state Senate and only eight Republicans in the 51-member state House of Representatives.

Numbers matter: In the 2011 session, no bill introduced by any of those nine lawmakers passed the Hawaii Legislature.

When Civil Beat reported that story last May, House Minority Leader Gene Ward fired back, saying influence at the Legislature can be measured in many ways, not just in getting bills passed.

The minority party still believes it has a big say in what happens at the Capitol.

"Some of the best bills that pass are with our fingerprints, and some of the best ideas are ours," Ward said at a caucus press conference two days after session opened Jan. 18.

Ward pointed to the example of his GOP colleague, Rep. Barbara Marumoto, who was one of the first lawmakers of either party to condemn Gov. Neil Abercrombie's proposal to tax pension income. The measure died.

"It's not whose name is on the bill," said Rep. George Fontaine, a minority whip. "If it's a good idea, it's not about caring who gets credit for it."

In the other chamber, meantime, Sen. Sam Slom holds a similar view.

"Democrats want me because they like to say they have bipartisan support," he said, pointing out that his voting record demonstrates that he votes in favor of 90 percent of all bills that pass.

Slom's signature is on a lot of those bills as a co-sponsor.

Slom observes, wryly, however, "There are some people who do not believe in a two-party system."

Loading