Am wishing today, we were more like Minnesota.
Yes, Minnesota.
The 2023 Legislature in Minnesota, with only a one-vote “blue majority” in the Senate, accomplished in a single year more than our own “super blue” Hawai‘i Legislature has accomplished in the past decade.
Minnesota passed legislation that included; free breakfast and lunch for all children in school; a state-run paid family and medical leave program; legalized recreational cannabis; free in-state college tuition; a reduction of taxes for low and middle-income households; a ban on PFAS “forever chemicals;” codified abortion rights; boosted funding for schools that includes indexing per pupil formula funding to the rate of inflation; and more, much more. See the full list and description here: https://rb.gy/i0n30f.
They passed all of this legislation in a single 2023 legislative session with Democrats holding only a two-vote majority in the House and a one-vote majority in the Senate.
“We set out at the very beginning of session with our top 30 goals, introduced jointly with the House and the Senate. And as of the end of the day, we are going to pass the entirety of our top priorities with the House and Senate,” said House Majority Leader Jamie Long, of Minneapolis, to the Associated Press.
Kudos to Minnesota!
Tell me now, why is not Hawai‘i, with its Democratic governor and super blue Legislature accomplishing similar public policy milestones?
If Speaker of the House Representative Scott Saiki, Senate President Ron Kouchi, House Finance Chair Representative Kyle Yamashita, and Ways and Means Chair Senator Donavan Delacruz (all Democrats) wanted to pass these types of measures it would happen.
Just like in Minnesota.
But it doesn’t happen because the core Democratic Party platform priorities are either not important to them, they are afraid to take political risks, or they are just lazy and complacent. They want to wear the brand and carry that “D” trademark with them to the ballot box, but when push comes to shove, they will side with maintaining the status quo every time.
These four legislators collectively control the outcome of every single bill that’s introduced. They serve at the top level because a majority of the legislative body elects them to those positions of leadership.
So, it stands to reason that this same majority of Hawai‘i legislators are also either DINOs or just unwilling to buck the good ole boy system.
They prefer instead to go along to get along. Inside the building, it’s called “playing the long game.” I wonder sometimes what exactly that long game is because it doesn’t ever seem to come to an end.
Meanwhile, people are sleeping in gutters and doorways, in the literal shadow of multimillion-dollar homes and condos.
There is no shortage of wealth in the islands. The large corporate landowners, absentee foreign real estate investors, and hotel and resort operators are not fleeing our shores because taxes are too high.
What’s lacking is not money but rather the political will, and the core values needed to tackle our many challenges.
Elections matter. On Aug. 10, let’s unite to elect leaders at all levels who care about our most pressing challenges, are willing to go to bat for the community, are not intimidated or swayed by big money, and feel the same urgency and need for change that we do.
Let’s create a “Minnesota Miracle” here — Hawai‘i style.
As the inimitable and totally awesome Nina Turner is fond to say, “Any ole blue won’t do.”
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Gary Hooser served eight years in the state Senate, where he was majority leader. He also served for eight years on the Kaua‘i County Counci. He presently writes on Hawaii Policy and Politics at www.garyhooser.blog.
Mr. Hooser’s comments are right on. Too many politicians in Hawaii claim to be Democrats, but vote like republicans.
What does that even mean???
They don’t vote to subsidize everything via the hard working taxpayer? They don’t care about accountably and personal responsibility? Everything should be provided for FREE via the “Nanny State”??
Anyone who identifies as a Democrats after seeing the destruction of the greatest economy the world ever saw should take a long look at what they have voted for.
In Kauai, the Democratic party is a magnet for crime, more homeless coming from the mainland, high taxes, high inflation, a world now in Chaos and lack of American values.
Our open border policy is bringing millions of new welfare recipients that will take Federal funds away from some of the needy that really need gov help.
It’s the Democrat’s that brought us $10 a gallon for milk, eggs, bread, and the highest cost of goods used daily in 50 tears. Try feeding a family of 4 today at a fast-food restaurant lately? How about those 9% interest rates on a new home or a car?
Cheating, sensor media, misuse of DOJ, CIA, FBI spying on Americans. Is that what your calling for Gary?
Just ask your self 1 question, are you personally better off today than you were 2016-2020. Its about policies not personalities! The Democrats have ruined America with policies that don’t stop with Biden.
Why is it your Property taxes have increase 10x since 2000. Why is it that Democrats vision of success is having a job, 2 weeks a year vacation, and God forbid if you make enough at the job than yes, we will make sure you don’t enjoy the fruits of hard labor as we will just take it away and give to the poor.
Gary your out of touch with most people on Kauai today than can see for themselves that the Democratic party is a FRAUD, does nothing for the middle class yet uses the poor and minorities for votes. The policies are losers.
Gary it sounds like your enamored with legal weed?
Maybe the majority of voters in Hawaii like the status quo. Hooser doesn’t, but then again he’s a cranky old man who repeatedly whinges about a lot of issues. Just because he wants changes doesn’t mean that we want changes.
Sorry, but I don’t believe this BS… Gary served 4 years under L. Lingle, 4 years under Abercrombie, and what did he get done?…. exactly.