Posted at the request of Hawaii Thousand Friends – Not a policy of the Democratic Party. This blog is used to stimulate discussion and to inform people who may want to advocate for or against legislation.
The Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party opposes any bill eliminating government projects from environmental and cultural review.
Please be aware that House rules prevent any member of the House who voted NO on a bill from serving on the Conference Committee which is working to resolve differences between the House and Senate Versions. THIS MEANS ONLY HOUSE MEMBERS WHO SUPPORT THESE BILLS WILL BE ASSIGNED TO THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE. Your only chance to influence this legislation now will be to talk to each of the Conference Committee Members and be sure they know your concerns. At least try to give back to the Environmental Council their authority to review and reject the Governorʻs proposed project exceptions.
The Environmental Caucus thanks Donna Wong for this information:
Donna Wong
Executive Director
Phone/fax: 808-262-0682
EMAIL
SB2927 and SB755: WOUNDED BUT NOT DEAD…
If anyone thinks that a phone call or email will have no effect, just take a look at these recent Honolulu Star Advertiser articles by Richard Borreca and David Shapiro HERE! One story received 47,340 “Likes” on Facebook! Your dedication and actions have made a tremendous difference on both of these bad bills. Mahalo to all who have somehow participated.
Also, be sure to pick up a copy of the current Honolulu Weekly to see the 1/2 page ad on this issue.
April 9th, 2012, Non-Partisan Hawai`i Ohana Press Conference
But now back to work. The bills will now disappear into Conference Committee where no in-person testimony will be taken. If your representative and/or Senator voted “AYE” or “AYE With Reservations” (list below), your calls & emails in opposition to unplanned development and exemption from environmental oversight are needed in order to finally kill these bills.
How did your Senator and Representative vote on SB2927 and SB755? Read on…
SB2927 passed the House on 3rd reading (Tuesday). The bill now goes to Conference Committee which we think will be chaired by House committee chairs: Jerry Chang (Water, Land, and Ocean Resources), Cabanilla, (Housing), and Marcus Oshiro (Finance).
Senate committee chairs: Donovan Dela Cruz (Water, Land and Housing), and David Ige (Ways and Means).
4/10 House vote on SB2927:
Yes (28 ayes):
– Aquino
– Cabanilla
– Chang
– Chong
– Coffman
– Cullen
– Evans
– Har
– Hashem
– Herkes
– Ichiyama
– Ito
– Jordan
– Kawakami
– Lee, Marilyn
– Manahan
– McKelvey
– Mizuno
– Morikawa
– Okamura
– Oshiro
– Pine
– Rhoads
– Say
– Souki
– Tokioka
– Tsuji
– Yamane
– Yamashita
Aye with reservations: Awana, Johanson
NO: (21votes ) Belatti, Brower, Carroll, Ching, Choy, Fontaine, Guigni, Hanohano, Keith-Agaran, C. Lee, Luke, Maurmoto, Nakashima, Nishimoto, Fiviere, Saiki, Takai, Takumi, Thielen, Ward, Wooley
3/6 Senate vote on SB 2927:
AYE (24 votes):
– Baker
– Chun Oakland
– Dela Cruz
– English
– Espero
– Fukunaga
– Gabbard
– Galuteria
– Green
– Hee
– Ige
– Kahele
– Kidani
– Kouchi
– Nishihara
– Shimabukuro
– Solomon
– Taniguchi
– Tsutsui
– Wakai AYE with reservations: Ihara, Kim, Ryan, Tokuda NO: Slom.
SB755 also passed the House on 3rd reading and now goes to Conference Committee which could be chaired by House committee chairs: Jerry Chang (Water, Land & Ocean Resources), Denny Coffman (Energy & Environmental Protection), McKelvey (Economic Revitalization and Business), Gil Keith-Agaran (Judiciary) and Marcus Oshiro (Finance) and Senate committee chairs: Carol Fukunaga (Economic Development and Technology), and David Ige (Ways and Means).
4/10 House vote on SB 755
Yes (29 ayes):
– Aquino
– Awana
– Cabanilla
– Carroll
– Chang
– Chong
– Choy
– Coffman
– Cullen
– Evans
– Har
– Hashem
– Herkes
– Ichiyama
– Ito
– Jordan
– Manahan
– McKelvey
– Mizuno
– Morikawa
– Nakashima
– Okamura
– Oshiro
– Pine
– Rhoads
– Tokioka
– Tsuji
– Yamane
– Yamashita
Aye with reservations: Keith-Agaran, Morikawa, and Rhoads.
NO: (19 voes) Belatti, Brower, Ching, Fontaine, Guigni, Hanohano, Johanson, C. Lee, M. Lee, Luke, Marumoto, Nishimoto, Riviere, Saiki, Takai, Takumi, Thielen, Ward, Wooley.
On 3/8/2011 the full Senate voted on the original language of SB755.
NOTE: The full Senate never voted on the current exemption bill. In other words your senator never had the opportunity to vote on the exemption language in SB755.
It is critical that your senator and representative hear your opposition to exempting state projects from environmental laws and oversight and “Gut & Replace” tactics. ID and contact your senator HERE and your representative HERE.
P.S. The unknowing authors of the original language in SB755 on school supplies — which was “Gutted and Replaced” with the current offending language were: Senators Fukunaga, Chun Oakland, Shimabukuro, Baker, Baluteria, Slom, Solomon, Tokuda, & Wakai. It’s been reporded that Sharon Har, VP of the House Water, Land & Ocean Resources authored committee report HSCR 1307 that changed this bill from gambling to the current exemption language.
Again, it would be very helpful if you contacted Governor Abercrombie’s office and tell him you are against any new version of SB755 and SB2927.
CONTACT:
The Honorable Neil Abercrombie
Phone: 808-586-0034
Fax: 808-586-0006
Email HERE
