Aiona plays it fair in ConCon study
June 2nd, 2008 by David ShapiroThe excellent study group to be chaired by Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona should settle any arguments over the potential costs of a Constitutional Convention if voters decide to call one in the November election.
Legislative Democrats, who are generally skeptical of a ConCon, this session ordered the Legislative Reference Bureau to study the costs.
But Gov. Linda Lingle, who favors the first comprehensive review of the Hawai’i Constitution in 30 years, formed the competing Aiona group after accusing legislators of attempting to run up ConCon costs and turn voters against it by gold-plating its study parameters for salaries, staff, facilities, election costs and voter education.
Aiona took the high road and appointed a balanced 10-member study group that should give voters a fair picture of the range of potential ConCon expenses.
The administration is well-represented by Attorney General Mark Bennett, Comptroller Russ Saito and Budget Director Georgina Kawamura, but so are legislative Democrats with Senate Majority Leader Gary Hooser and veteran Rep. Joe Souki, who will make sure the panel doesn’t lowball convention costs.
The group is rounded out by House Minority Leader Lynn Finnegan, Republican Sen. Gordon Trimble, Pi‘ilani Kaopuiki of the League of Women Voters, Kaipo Lum of the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce and the state’s Chief Elections Officer Kevin Cronin.
It’s difficult to imagine such a diverse group spinning the outcome to favor one side or the other in the ConCon debate, and House and Senate leaders should save taxpayers a few bucks and call off the Legislative Reference Bureau and its far more limited study that can only pale in comparison.
Bowing out. Sorry to see that Waimanalo Rep. Tommy Waters won’t seek re-election after three terms to devote himself to raising his family and earning a living.
Waters was Judiciary chairman in the last Legislature, a post that tends to handle a lot of high-profile controversial issues and has eaten up more than one chairman. He got the job at a relatively inexperienced stage of his legislative career and sometimes seemed in a bit over his head.
But he appeared honest and real in his dealings, always saying what was on his mind. It would have been interesting to see how he grew into the job.
Tags: ConCon, James "Duke" Aiona, Legislature, Linda Lingle
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:53 am
It takes real leadership to surround yourself with voices on both sides of an issue. Duke Aiona was a judge, so he knows if both sides get their say, the public will make the right decision. And the right decision is to hold a con con.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:55 am
I also think it’s too bad Waters will be leaving, although I think he’s sincere about wanting to do more for/with his family, and I certainly understand the decision.
However, he was one of the really good people at the Legislature, and it was unfortunate he got such a bad rap from some of the elements both inside and outside of the Capitol building. I hope he returns one day, maybe after his kids get a little older.
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:39 am
Kevin Cronin, the new Elections Officer, has been in the state…what…maybe two months? How’s he going to be able to contribute effectively to this discussion?
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:52 am
The question should be, “What do we need to review in the State of Hawaii Constitution?” Then we will see if ConCon would be worth the dollars spent.
Right? No sense spend the money if nothing gets done.
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Esmarelda, Kevin Cronin is still the Chief Election Officer for the State of Hawai`i. If a Con Con is approved, the electing of delegates will be a major cost component; and the Office of Elections will ultimately be responsible for holding a complete and fair election. While he is new to the job, Cronin will no doubt have the full knowledge and resources of his office at his disposal. Frankly, I think it would be irresponsible to convene a group to study the cost of a Con Con without the active participation of the Chief Election Officer. Kinda similar to the Ledge asking the LRB Director to come up with a number all by himself.
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Dave: Fair??? Can you count?? Count the votes on the committee.
Methinks your thoughts were obstructed by volcanic ash, and the vision by volcanic vog.
The ash and vog cleared in your assessment of Rep. Waters. He’s a sincere guy who did speak his mind. The Legislature lost a thinking legislator. Like any human, he wasn’t perfect, and some had strong disagreements with him. But he didn’t run from his views becuz the wind blew in another direction.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:50 am
Oil Pan,
It’s not the number of votes that matter. It’s the diverse voices that will all have to be fairly represented if the report is to have any credibility. The goal isn’t a single cost projection, but a range of possible costs depending on how the ConCon is structured. The membership guarantees that all scenarios will be addressed instead of just the single scenario the LRB is looking at.
I agree with Koauka that whether we need a ConCon is a more important question than what it’ll cost. I think we do need it, but others feel differently and that will be the question for all voters to debate and decide.
Dave
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:19 am
Dave: You’ve mixed in two issues here. One is what Con-Con cost scenarios will be addressed. The other is who’s on the committtee when the recommendation is to be voted on. On the first issue, I don’t see where the LRB focus will be any different from the Lingle group’s. On the second issue, I repeat, count the votes.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:53 pm
You’re kidding right? Aiona is one of the dimmest people out there. LRB should be able to do an excellent study since, by law, they are required to be nonpartisan. No matter how you slice it, the Governor’s/Aiona’s group is political. Besides, how lame is the Governor for creating a study group after the Legislature adopted the study resolution? She didn’t testify that the LRB study was slanted. In addition, even if the LRB study factors in a larger delegate count, big deal, the rest of the assumptions and costs determined by the LRB findings can still be used to calculate a per delegate cost and any ground and equipment costs. Lame reasoning.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:22 am
The con-con can be run online for a minimum amount of dollars - at least the election side of it.