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Ten Issues: Vote Your Views, Shape Our Agenda.

Mar 20, 2009 | By James Koshiba

When the State Legislature opened in January, lawmakers introduced over 3,000 bills.  By the time the Session ends in May, about 300 will survive to become laws of our State.

This year, a small team of Kanu's Members, Staff, and Board are following some of these bills as they make their way through the lawmaking process. We tried to follow issues in line with island values of environmental stewardship, compassionate community, and economic self reliance.

These are the things each of us tries to live through our personal commitments. We think our lawmakers should value them, too.

This team read through bills, researched the issues, and tracked bill progress through the State Capitol. We formed our own opinions and even tried our hand at testifying a few times. For many of us, this process was new.

We learned a few things about the Legislature: We saw how good ideas get killed for bad reasons (often to keep rivals from getting credit), and how bad ideas become law (usually when too few of us are watching). And we learned, as the saying goes, that 'laws are like sausages. Sometimes, it's better not to see them being made.'

We also discovered that it's hard to participate in our government. With so many issues, bills, and hearings on short notice, it's no wonder we struggle to keep up with the Legislature, much less make our voices heard there.

What We Can Do

This article is a first step in a Campaign to get all of us to learn, discuss, and speak out about the issues and the laws that shape our future during this Legislative Session.

You can start right here, right now. Below are summaries of 10 important issues, including a suggested position on each that is supposed to align with Kanu Hawaii's island principles. After each, there is a place to "agree" or "disagree" and to discuss. Like our commitments, our votes and comments are visible to other Kanu members.

These positions are the opinion of the small team that's been following the Legislature. Disagreeing with them is encouraged (even members of the team disagree on some).  All of the statements are open to change. Members' opinions will be used to reshape the list of issues and positions going forward.

In April, there will be opportunities for us to speak out together - a rally at the Capitol, letters to Elected Officials to sign onto. The issues and positions we support will be determined by member input. So, speak out here first. Then, when we have a sense of what we agree on, we can speak out together in April.

Why We Must

Being a part of Kanu Hawaii is about personal commitments to change, but it's also about committing to work together to change the world around us. We need business and government to change in the same ways we are trying to change ourselves. Sharing our opinions is a first step in that effort.

We know there will be differences of opinion among us on these issues. The mark of a strong community is the willingness of members to discuss differences respectfully, remain open minded, and stick together through disagreement. Strong communities are forged when people agree on most important things, recognizing that they may disagree strongly on a few items.

It's this kind of community that we need now more than ever. Hawaii is divided on many issues today. How our islands emerge from these disagreements and our ability to heal from them is everyone's kuleana. As members of Kanu Hawaii, we can do our part by modeling strong community here.

Share Your View

1. Preserve funding for "Legacy Lands"
Called "the worst bill this session" by major environmental groups, this bill would eliminate dedicated funding for "Legacy Lands" conservation - important natural and cultural areas that define our islands.  Waimea Valley and Moanalua Valley on Oahu were saved from development by this fund. The bill would also slash funding for watershed protection and cut affordable housing funding in half. When the program was created, it was praised around the country. Now, the Legislature wants to raid these funds and use them to pay for other state expenses. A balanced budget is important, but cutting funds for the environment and the needy (see below) is short-sighted. We think we should stand against this measure.




2. No new fossil fuel power plants
Most of Hawaii's power plants burn fossil fuels (mainly oil), so every time we flip on the lights, we pump climate-warming pollutants into the air. This makes electricity use the 2nd biggest source of greenhouse gasses in the islands, behind transportation. This proposal would prohibit building new power plants that burn fossil fuels. If we're serious about pursuing a clean and secure energy future for Hawaii, we believe this would be a massive step in the right direction. And, it would make a bold statement to the world about Hawaii's commitment to stewardship and self reliance. We think we should support this effort.




3. Make the solar credit available to low-income people
For years, a State tax credit has been available to people who install solar panels and water heaters. The credit gives an incentive to people who invest in these clean, emissions-cutting appliances. But, the tax credit only benefits people with enough taxes to offset. People on low- or fixed-incomes (kupuna, the working poor) don't pay much taxes, so they cannot claim the credit. Yet these are the very people that would benefit most from cost- and energy-savings. This measure would allow low-income people to take the credit in cash if they don't have enough taxes to offset. It makes the incentive available to all people, regardless of wealth. We think we should support it.




4. Remove welfare requirements that punish saving
Under current rules, a family cannot qualify for public assistance (e.g., Foodstamps, Medicaid, or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) if their savings exceed limits of $2,000 to $5,000 (depending on the program). Families that have worked hard and saved up are forced to spend down what they have (e.g., their kid's college tuition funds) before they can receive welfare. Lifting these limits would let Hawaii tap more federal welfare dollars, and put more money into the hands of those that need it most in these hard times. Most importantly, it would stop punishing poor people for saving. Other states have lifted their "asset limits". We think we should, too.




5. Maintain and repair irrigation for agriculture
With less than two weeks of food on supermarket shelves at any given time, Hawaii's food supply is at serious risk. Growing more of our own food is the key to fresher, more sustainable, and more secure food. But, farmers and food experts see a big challenge ahead: a reliable water system for agriculture. Many irrigation systems are owned by large landowners (e.g., the former plantations). Small farmers rely on these systems today, but without incentives, rules or funding, the systems are falling into disrepair. Deteriorating irrigation poses a double risk - it threatens our food security and public safety because dams and levies protect our towns from flooding. We think it's important to support efforts that invest in these systems.




6. Temporarily halt sales of Ceded Lands
Ceded lands are former lands of the Hawaiian Monarchy taken as part of the overthrow of the Kingdom and annexation of Hawaii by the U.S. They are estimated at 1.2 million acres - about 40 percent of the total land in Hawai'i and 90 percent of State-controlled lands. There are unresolved claims by our native people - unresolved in law (court cases are pending), and unresolved in many people's hearts and minds. For the State to sell those lands before these issues are resolved would be unfair and irreversible. Our country has consistently failed to meet a minimum standard of justice and fairness for its native people. Hawaii can do better. This measure would temporarily suspend sales of Ceded Lands until claims are resolved or 2014, whichever comes first. We think we should stand in support of it.




7. Protect funding for programs for the vulnerable
Lawmakers are cutting spending in many areas to balance the budget. One area targeted is services for the elderly, disabled, and poor. Balancing the budget on the backs of the neediest in our community is not only unjust, it's unwise. When we force people out of shelters and into parks, out of mental health treatment and into our communities, out of clinics and into emergency rooms, we set ourselves up to pay a much higher price down the road. Our children and grandchildren will pay higher taxes, live amidst greater suffering, and see a far less compassionate community than the one we have today. Moreover, research shows that it's better for the economy to balance the budget by taxingthings like oil and tobacco, or by raising taxes on those who can afford it, than by cutting spending on social services. We should not make our vulnerable citizens pay for a balanced budget.




8. Establish civil unions
This bill would give the same legal rights and responsibilities to same-sex couples as a married man and woman. There are few among us who aren't from a group that was discriminated against at one time. Full and equal treatment by the law is a fundamental principal of our Constitution and our democracy. What's more, respect for different ways of living, worshiping, speaking, and honoring family are what is best about Hawaii. We believe we should stand in support of this effort. How we discuss and debate this issue is just as important as the positions we take.




9. Generate revenue with a barrel fee on oil
This measure would impose a fee of $1.00 to $5.00 on every barrel of oil imported into Hawaii. The fee would generate up to $230 million in annual revenue for investments in clean energy and food security. Ideally, the fee should be higher (to discourage use of imported oil and fossil-fuel dependent activities), and revenues used to help offset the impact on low-income people that can least afford higher prices  (a $5.00 barrel fee would increase gas prices by about $0.12 per gallon). This is another bold measure to move us toward a clean energy future, and we think we should stand in support of it.




10. Keep the cap on corporate campaign contributions
Several times this year, lawmakers tried to increase the limit on corporate contributions to political campaigns. Currently, contributions are capped at $1,000. Lawmakers tried to raise it to $50,000 and one proposal even tried to make corporate contributions unlimited. A majority of states are moving in the opposite direction, eliminating or capping corporate donations at very low levels. We think we ought to oppose any effort to raise the limit on corporate political contributions.

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