One day to the opening of the 2011 legislative session, and the negotiations are still going on in the House majority caucus, according to the Star-Advertiser’s Derrick DePledge. These are pretty high stake negotiations, at this late date. Do you think they’ll reach an agreement in caucus?
Meanwhile, others are gearing up.
Common Cause Hawaii and Kanu Hawaii are offering two free workshops for “citizen lobbyists.”
Workshop #1 – “Find Your Voice”
When: Thursday, January 20, 2011, 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Where: Hawaii State Capitol, Room 329Workshop #2 – “Use Your Voice”
When: Thursday, January 27, 2011, 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Where: Hawaii State Capitol, Room 329
Click here for more information about each of the workshops and to register. Space is limited.
Former State Senator Gary Hooser, now writing a regular column for the Hawaii Independent, offered up his own advice on the legislative process this week. The legislature, he writes, operates by rules and procedures, but…
However, for some legislation (usually the uber-controversial or those special interest matters seeking to fly under the radar or jam past the normal checks and balances), established rules, timelines, and legislative policies simply don’t matter. You see, the Legislature makes the rules and the Legislature can change them any time it likes.
In some cases, legislators will simply ignore the rules in pursuit of passing their particular priority initiative. Unless challenged by a colleague, legislative leadership, or determined members of the public, the process is open to manipulation and abuse.
Fortunately, he adds, the process is open and redundant enough to provide checks and balances. That’s why those Common Cause workshops are critical if you want to get involved.
From the folks at the capitol’s Public Access Room:
• Call or email to sign up for one of the Public Access Room’s (PAR’s) ongoing legislative process workshops – they’re held Tuesdays at 12 noon, Thursdays at 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 11:00 a.m.
• Updated information sheets can be found on PAR’s website (http://hawaii.gov/lrb/par), or stop by and pick them up in Room 401. There are new legislators, some others have moved offices, and we’ll keep you updated on committee assignments. We’ve also got revised floor maps posted.
• The January 2011 PAR Newsletter should be out next week.
They also sent out public invitations to an opening day potluck:
Please come to our Opening Day potluck.
At the conclusion of Senate and House floor ceremonies,
come join us in the Public Access Room – your office –
for modest pupus, good information,
and our almost famous punch!Opening Day Potluck
Public Access Room (401)
State Capitol
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
12 noon – pau
Last year, a show of austerity cancelled opening day festivities. It’s going to be interesting to check out the scene a year later.
Discover more from i L i n d
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
To me, there has always been a method to what is otherwise perceived as legislative madness.
The trick is to know the tricks, and then counter the tricks with your own. And he or she with the newest tricks up their sleeves is always the newest smartest kid on the block.
Should it be like this? It is what it is. If the Congress and the Senate operate in much the same way, with major plays and deals happening in their halls and their golf courses, then why should we are we so harsh on our guys and gals cutting their deals along the rails and using the process to their best advantage?
The process is what it is – learn it and work it. Still, at the end of the day, it really is still about those relationships, built for decades. There simply is no teaching to that, I think.
I will add that the role Hooser once played inside the Legislature (as opposed to outside looking in) – boldly, loudly , relentlessly (irritatingly), but generally effectively pointing out good and bad Policy (as opposed to Process – because that seems to be Ihara’s cup of tea) — that voice was necessary and now, I fear, void. I do hope Senator Hooser finds a new meaningful place for his voice.
I am a community activist, having spent a good portion of my life for the past 6 years tracking bills, taking off from work to testify, and rallying my community. It does take time, lots of time, and I wouldn’t recommend it unless you have a passion for it.
Mahalo Ian for pointing out the workshops!
Ditto – Mahalo Ian!
In his time in the State Senate, did Hooser serve as chair
of any committee? I would invite you to look at those that are
currently in majority leadership positions in the Senate. Four of
them haven’t served as committee chairs (technically five if you
count President Tsutsui, but he served as WAM’s vice chair, which
could be argued as a committee chair). Why does this matter? Some
legislators continue to get re-elected year after year without
campaigning, because they fly under the radar. How do they do this?
They do whatever it takes to avoid being the chair of a committee
while simultaneouslypostioning themselves for an innocuous
leadership position they can reference (e.g. Les Ihara). Taking on
the responsibility of addressing a controversial bill will likely
alienate a chair from a portion of voters. In my opinion, Hooser
had the horse trading skills of a cat. Perhaps, I should’ve saved
the last comment for Friday 🙂
Democracy is messy, no?
Hey Charles!
I suspect democracy might be messy, but I haven’t had much experience with it. I expect it would entail a lot of meeting, no?
Meanwhile, this corporate-financed, special interest pluralism we got going herr
e, with an occasional unruly mob storming through the palace upsetting everyone, is a colorful and, yes, messy, morass.
I suspect democracy might be better. That, plus some transparency.