State Senate Announces Leadership and Committee Chairs for 2009 Legislative Session
The Hawai‘i State Senate today announced its leadership and committee chair assignments for the 2009 Legislative Session.
Leadership:
President: Colleen Hanabusa
Vice President: Russell Kokubun
Majority Leader: Gary Hooser
Majority Technology Leader: David Ige
Majority Floor Leader: Norman Sakamoto
Majority Caucus Leader: Shan Tsutsui
Majority Policy Leader: Les Ihara, Jr.
Majority Whip: Jill Tokuda
Majority Whip: Suzanne Chun Oakland
Committee Chairs:
Ways and Means: Donna Mercado Kim; Vice-chair: Shan Tsutsui
Judiciary and Government Operations: Brian Taniguchi
Consumer Protection: Roz Baker
Education and Housing: Norman Sakamoto; Vice-chair: Michele Kidani
Higher Education: Jill Tokuda
Water, Land, Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs: Clayton Hee
Economic Development and Technology: Carol Fukunaga
Labor: Dwight Takamine
Health: David Ige; Vice-chair: Josh Green
Human Services: Suzanne Chun Oakland
Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs: J. Kalani English
Energy and Environment: Mike Gabbard
Public Safety and Military Affairs: Will Espero
Tourism: Clarence Nishihara; Vice-chair: Brickwood Galuteria
“These new assignments allow us to make the best use of the Senators’ talents, while also permitting them to serve in areas where they have existing skills and interests,” said Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, who will begin her third session as President. “We are particularly proud that each of our incoming Senators will serve as a vice-chair, to give them a chance to get a solid grounding in the committee process. The one exception is incoming Senator Dwight Takamine. Given his long service in the House, we think he’s prepared to chair his own committee, Labor.”
“We’ve also created a new position in leadership for a Majority Technology Leader, which will be filled by Senator David Ige,” Hanabusa continued. “Senator Ige has led past technology initiatives, including our paperless project and network upgrades, so we’re looking forward to calling on his expertise as we move forward.”
Senator Russell Kokubun takes over as Senate Vice President, a position formerly held by Senator Donna Mercado Kim. The Vice President is responsible for Senate operations. “I look forward to this new opportunity,” said Senator Kokubun. “It’s quite a challenge. In light of our state’s economic situation, the Senate is instituting a four percent budget reduction. We’ll be looking for some new efficiencies and doing more with less, but everyone I’ve talked to in the Senate is ready to do their part.”
Senator Donna Mercado Kim assumes the chair of the Ways and Means Committee, with Senator Shan Tsutsui continuing as vice-chair. “We’re all aware that state revenues are falling,” said Kim, “and that’s going to have to be reflected in our state budget. But I’m looking forward to the challenge of working within our priorities to make the best use of our tax dollars.”
Former Ways and Means chair Roz Baker will now head the Senate’s Consumer Protection Committee. “This will allow me to focus on growing our local economy and looking after consumers’ concerns at this critical juncture, as well as helping business,” said Baker. “While I enjoyed chairing WAM, I think Senator Kim is capable of managing our state finances and I am happy to direct my efforts at creating new opportunities and building a stronger future for our state.”
With leadership and committee chairs in place, the Senate Majority will begin the process of developing a Majority Package of legislation for the upcoming session.