January 10, 2010
The Hawaii State Legislature begins its 2012 session on January 18, 2012.
- How will the Reapportionment plan and the pending lawsuits possibly change our Legislative representation next year?
- What are our West Hawaii Legislators planning for the upcoming Legislative session?
Michael Matsukawa—Reapportionment
Every 10 years, the State of Hawaii evaluates census data to redraw district lines for reapportionment. This task, as many of you know, has been filled with much controversy, some of which was due to the classification of military and college students as residents. The final decision had not been made as of this meeting. Possible new seats:
- 1 Senate seat — Big Island
- 1 Senate seat — Kauai
- 1 House seat — Big Island
- 1 House seat — Maui
You can keep informed of the updates in this process here.
State Representative Denny Coffman, Chair of Energy and Environmental Protection
2012 Legislative Priorities
As Chair of Energy and Environmental Protection:
- Organization of Utilities that provide electricity: Consolidation—state-wide rates—role: transmission, distribution and reliability only.
- PUC directive to focus on replacing fossil fuel electric generation facilities with geothermal resources.
- Change laws to facilitate geothermal exploration, eliminate geothermal subzones and remove leases from EIS requirements.
- Single use bag fees to provide incentives for reusable bags.
- Transition our ethanol facility tax credit into a renewable fuels facility and agricultural bio-fuels feedstock tax credit.
As a Representative of District 6 (West Hawaii):
- Remain focused on planning and building of the West Hawaii Court House complex.
- Remain focused on supporting the building of the West Hawaii Community College.
- Remain focused on DOT projects: Airport modernization and Highway projects.
- New legislation to transfer state property in and around the Honokohau Harbor to the Hawaii Community Development Authority as a community development project.
- Obtain funding for a frontage road in NELHA to provide access to Ka’imi’nani Drive for egress into and out of the property after the widening of the Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway to four lanes.
State Representative Cindy Evans, House Majority Floor Leader
Thank you for the opportunity to serve and represent you at the State Legislature. We begin this legislative session with high hopes and cautious optimism. Given the uncertainty of the global economy and cost of oil, the general feeling is the economy in 2012 will be flat.
The chairs of the House and Senate Committees have been working on legislation specific to their subject matter, such as, energy, health, and transportation. I anticipate lots of ideas to be considered and I’m hopeful that we shall make progress in economic growth, public safety, education, healthcare, government efficiency and accountability, local agriculture, renewable energy, workforce development, safe roads and infrastructure.
Having listened to concerns and ideas to improve quality of life, reduce government spending, and embrace innovation and technology, I’ve drafted legislation for consideration including, but not limited to:
- Driving under influence
- Aquarium fish
- Illegal vacation rentals
- Food safety
- Truancy
- Transitional housing
- Access to healthcare
- Outdoor recreation
- Land use
I know that our main goal is job creation and stimulating the economy. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. I hope you follow what subjects interest you and provide input.
State Senator Josh Green, Senate Health Committee Chairman
Two hospitals on Oahu closed with 900+ jobs lost.
2012 Legislative Priorities
- Strengthen Hospitals
- Doctors and RNs to rural areas via loan repayment and residency programs
- Reduce toxic contamination in tap water
- Chromium-6.
- Arsenic
- Aspertane
- Clean Air by reducing toxic contamination
- Stricter DUI laws