HOOSER: House of cards

If it looks like I’m “picking on the State House”, it’s because the House keeps messing up — egregiously, in your face kine messing up.

The latest fiasco involves the Chair of House Finance, Rep. Kyle Yamashita, the sole sponsor of HB1369 seeking to eliminate renewable energy and related tax credits.

As if the Trump/Musk administrations’ denial of climate change and assault on renewable energy is not enough, instead of increasing tax credits to compensate for the reduced Federal support — Rep. Yamashita is proposing to reduce support even more. This is bad for families, bad for a local green industry, and bad for the climate.

HB1369, was “referred” only to House Finance. Rep. Yamashita is the bill’s only sponsor and he’s also Chair of House Finance.

Of course there are 15 other Representatives who also sit on House Finance, but the key word here is “sit”. If history is any indication, we can expect most if not all of those 15 to “go along to get along” as they are fearful of the power wielded by the Finance Chair.

They’re afraid if they raise their hands to question the Chair, they’ll be “punished”.

They’re fearful that much needed funding for sidewalks, parks, highways, or schools in their district will suddenly be “lined out of the budget” as punishment for speaking out.

Such is the toxic culture that permeates the big square building on Beretania Street.

At minimum HB1369 should have also been referred to the committee on Energy &Environmental Protection, (EEP) Chaired by Representative Nicole Lowen. EEP would have reviewed the “subject matter” impact of the proposed tax changes. Are the proposed changes good or bad for the environment and for the renewable energy sector?

The Finance Committee looks at “budget impacts” and subject matter committees look at “subject matter impacts”. However HB1369 will have no subject matter impact review because it was referred only to House Finance.

HB1369 also amends the existing solar hot water heater mandate in a manner that has nothing to do with the budget.

Why did HB1369 receive only a single referral when a reasonable review of the bill shows it has potentially far reaching impacts on issues relating to energy and the environment?

House Rules grant Speaker Nadine Nakamura absolute power to refer bills. Rule. 2.1 (14) – “It shall be the duty of the Speaker to..refer all bills to committees…The Speaker’s decision shall be the final disposition of the matter.”

The Speakers decision to refer HB1369 only to House Finance could have been “appealed” by the Chair of EEP, however since it’s all done in secret, we’ll never know if that happened. In any case, “The Speaker’s decision shall be the final disposition of the matter.”

The Speaker has total power over which committee “hears” the bill, and the Committee Chair controls the outcome of that hearing.

This begs the question — Why do we need the other 49 House members?

Yes, I’m fully aware sarcasm is the lowest form of humor. I’m also aware what’s happening now in the House is not funny at all.

HB1369 will be heard in committee Wednesday Feb. 19th at 2:30pm. To submit testimony go to https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov — Log-in (top right corner) go to “My Legislature” — Click “Submit Testimony” (left side of page) – enter HB1369 — follow instructions.

Regardless of the timing, if you support preserving tax credits that support the use of renewable energy in Hawaii, be it solar, wind or biofuels — it’s critically important to call your own district Representative and ask them to vote NO on HB1369.

HB1369 must be stopped in its tracks or at the very minimum re-referred and undergo thorough joint/committee review.

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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 Council. He presently writes on Hawai‘i Policy and Politics at www.garyhooser.blog.