Senate Majority Caucus

Though HB444 received most of the media attention yesterday, Lingle also vetoed 32 of the 39 bills on the list of potential vetoes she submitted to the legislature on June 21, 2010. This is in addition to 3 bills that were vetoed earlier. The governor cited various factors for vetoing the including significant impacts on the public, legal or constitutional concerns, potential unintended consequences, or technical flaws in the legislation. For her statements of objections, access them here. Otherwise, view the 32 bills vetoed below:

HB444 HD1 SD1
RELATING TO CIVIL UNIONS.
Extends the same rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities of spouses in a marriage to partners in a civil union.

HB865 HD1 SD1 CD1
RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.
Establishes an unfunded mandate on the State Department of Transportation by setting up a working group to perform a feasibility study on transferring state highway maintenance functions to Maui County without providing resources or allowing adequate time for the study.

HB921 HD1 SD2
RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS.
Complicates the transfer of 999-year homestead leases, bypassing existing statutes that provide for the determination of successorship.

HB1212 HD1 SD1 CD1
RELATING TO INFORMATION PRACTICES.
Disallows the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs from disclosing pending complaints against a business or professional to the detriment of consumers who need the information for informed decision-making.

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Civil union supporters join hands in unity and hope

Governor Lingle in a press conference today vetoed a bill that would have granted the same rights and benefits of marriage to same-sex couples. ”I have been open and consistent in my opposition to same-sex marriage, and find that House Bill 444 is essentially same sex marriage by another name,” she said. Lingle also stated the issue is of such societal importance it deserves to be decided by all the people of Hawaii.

At the end of a long road, both proponents and opponents of HB444 gathered on the steps of the State Capitol and waited for hours to hear the governor’s decision on civil unions in Hawaii. With each group claiming their separate areas, the State Capitol was physically divided today by an invisible line. It served as a sad reminder of how divisive this issue still is. 

Mahalo to Civil Beat for posting a great photo gallery documenting the scene at the Capitol today. Read national coverage of the governor’s veto on CNN and NPR.

Photo by Honolulu Star Advertiser

Senate President Colleen Hanabusa today issued the following statement expressing her condolences on the passing of former Hawaii Chief Justice William S. Richardson:

“I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Chief Justice William S. Richardson, who did so much for our state, our judiciary, and for Native Hawaiians. I offer my condolences to his family and to all of those who will feel his loss.

“I consider myself fortunate that I was able to get to know C.J. Richardson and to have a chance to discuss so many important issues with him. I gained a great deal from his valuable insights on a host of issues facing our state, not the least of which was the rights of Native Hawaiians and the vital importance of preserving our host culture.

“I believe this is a time for us to stop and consider the great impact C.J. Richardson had on our state. In the areas of land and water rights, his leadership on the Hawaii Supreme Court helped protect the rights of ordinary people. His advocacy helped ensure the establishment of the law school that bears his name, allowing us to educate lawyers who truly understand local issues. I am proud to be among its graduates.  More recently, I often saw him at the law school, lecturing to or meeting with students, to share his lifetime of experience.

“For his generosity, his guidance, and his deep love for Hawaii, we owe William Richardson a great debt. I will miss him.”

Governor Linda Lingle today submitted to the State Legislature a list of 39 bills that she is considering for potential vetoes.

The bills are being considered for potential veto due to various factors including:

1. Significant negative impacts on the public
2. Legal or constitutional concerns
3. Potential unintended consequences, and
4. Technical flaws in the legislation.

The Governor has placed some bills on the list to preserve her option to veto them while the Administration continues to review them.

“While the Legislature each year passes legislation it believes is important, it is my duty as Governor to ensure the bills that become law are constitutional, fiscally responsible and in the State’s and the public’s long-term best interest,” said Governor Lingle.

“This year, as in prior years, my Administration is taking a prudent approach of questioning bills that use limited State resources ineffectively or that would hamper our economic recovery,” the Governor added.

The Governor is required by the Hawai‘i Constitution to give the Legislature 10 days notice of any bill she is considering vetoing, prior to the deadline when she must take final action on the bills passed in the 2010 legislative session. This year the deadline to veto bills is July 6.

Public comments on the 39 bills being considered for vetoes may be sent to the Governor’s office as follows:

Email: governor.lingle@hawaii.gov or gov.policy@hawaii.gov

Fax: (808) 586-0006

Mail: Office of the Governor
Hawai‘i State Capitol, Executive Chambers
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813

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2010 Potential Vetoes

HB415 HD2 SD2 CD1
RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
Veto Explanation: Directs the auditor to conduct an expensive and unnecessary audit of the Department of Public Safety’s contracts with mainland prisons and the Honolulu federal detention center.

HB444 HD1 SD1
RELATING TO CIVIL UNIONS.
Veto Explanation: Extends the same rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities of spouses in a marriage to partners in a civil union.

HB865 HD1 SD1 CD1
RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.
Veto Explanation: Establishes an unfunded mandate on the State Department of Transportation by setting up a working group to perform a feasibility study on transferring state highway maintenance functions to Maui County without providing resources or allowing adequate time for the study.

HB921 HD1 SD2
RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS.
Veto Explanation: Complicates the transfer of 999-year homestead leases, bypassing existing statutes that provide for the determination of successorship.

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Senator J. Kalani English today issued the following statement on the signing of Senate Bill 2897, which implements the recommendations of the Ignition Interlock Task Force and establishes a procedure to require the installation of ignition interlock systems for drivers convicted of driving under the influence:

“While it may be appealing to say that we should impose zero tolerance and simply take away the licenses of those convicted of DUI, the reality is that people whose licenses have been revoked still need to get to work, to transport their families, and to fulfill other obligations, and there is still no efficient alternative to driving. We needed another tool to address it, and this ignition interlock legislation provides just such a tool.”

Senator English serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs, which reviewed and recommended passage of SB2897 during the 2010 legislative session.