Regarding the Opening Day of the 2010 Legislative Session:
Many challenges confront our State as we find ourselves in the grip of a severe economic crisis requiring significant sacrifice from families, individuals, and businesses across our community. This year, with so much at stake, and with so much work needing to be done, the House and the Senate have decided to refrain from its customary activities and ceremony in order to get straight down to business from the very start.
There will be no entertainment, no flowers, no festivities or subsequent receptions, as has been the tradition in years past. Speeches will be abbreviated, and instead of being platforms for caucus agendas, will be focused on the joint effort required of us all, working together. Committee Chairs will use the additional time to hold hearings and informational briefings focused on the most pressing issues facing our State: the economy, education, health care, and public safety.
As in the case for our daily floor sessions, seating in the Chamber gallery for the public will be available on a first come, first served basis. However, again, we intend for the 2010 Opening Day floor session to be conducted as strictly business with no ceremony whatsoever.
Further, in years past we have been fortunate recipients of generous gifts of Aloha or well wishes. This year, we ask that in lieu of giving gifts, if you still feel compelled to give anything, please donate funds to your favorite charity, to help mitigate some of the hardship that these economic struggles have caused.
Read the full 2010 Opening Day Memo.