SECOND CROSSOVER

House Bills Pass Out of the Senate

Hundreds of State House bills were passed on third reading by the State Senate during the second crossover which concluded on April 10, 2008. Some bills of note which crossed back over to the House include the following:

HB 509-This bill is a loan guarantee for inter-island airlines that was revived in an effort to "save" Aloha Airlines. I voted "no" on this bill. The state can't save Aloha!

HB 3367-Reduces the monthly wireless tax from 66 cents to 43 cents. I voted in favor of this. Passed 25-0.

HB 2929- Six senators including myself voted "no" on this Worker's Comp bill that requires independent medical examinations and permanent impairment rating examinations to be performed by mutually agreed upon physicians.

HB 1745- This bill requires firms employing more than 100 people to retain all of them upon its sale. I voted "no" on this bill along with 5 other senators.

HB 2557-This is the journalism shield bill that is designed to protect the sources and work papers of journalists in both traditional and new media. I voted in favor of this bill.

HB 3377-This bill will mandate ignition interlock systems on motorists convicted of drunk driving. Voted in favor.

In other floor actions taken on non-crossover days:

SB 2153-I voted against this tax refund bill mainly because getting only $1 back from the state budget surplus is an insult to the taxpayer. Taxpayers won't even see a $1 check as this will be applied to a credit on next year's state taxes. Meanwhile, Hawaii remains one of the highest taxed states in the nation. The bill has gone to the Governor.

HB 2974-I voted against this unionization "streamlining" bill that eliminates the secret ballot on membership voting. The bill passed out of both houses, went to the Governor and was vetoed on April 14. An override may be possible but with public pressure, this will not be done.

More than a dozen bills have become law and many others are going through the conference committee process. The final day of the legislature is scheduled for May 1. More bill information at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov.