March Madness: Hawaii Legislative Resolutions
It’s the last week in March, the time for the Hawaii Legislature to consider a whole mess of resolutions — measures that can influence governance, such as asking for an agency audit.
Although they don’t carry the force of law, “resos,” as they are known, express the will or wish of lawmakers.
Like NCAA March Madness, there will be a lot of losers and very few resolutions that make it to the final round. Hearings have already begun and are reaching a peak this week.
At last count, there were a total of nearly 700 state House and Senate resolutions and concurrent resolutions, the latter requesting action or stating the position of the Legislature on particular issues.
But there are lots of duplicates: resolutions identical to concurrent resolutions as well as House or Senate companions, which increase the chances a measure will pass at least one chamber.
Here’s Civil Beat’s look at “reso themes” at the 2012 Legislature.
Conducting Business
Some resolutions always come before lawmakers because they are a required part of governing.
They include resos that and the and committee assignments, and invite the governor to address.
A good many, however, are backups should specific legislation fail. This session, for example, there is a reso that asks the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to convene a .
Reacting to Current Events
Legislators follow the news, but unlike most of us they feel they can do something about it.
Remember that zipline fatality on the Big Island? Ask for a sunrise review of regulations.
A drug-addled Whitney Houston drowned in a bathtub? Recognize that she was one of the of all time.
Angry that President Obama won’t approve the Keystone XL Pipeline while the country is getting gouged at the pump? Urge him and the Congress in order to lower energy costs.
Dabbling in National Affairs
Speaking of Washington, D.C., Hawaii lawmakers want Congress to recognize that and so are not entitled to constitutional rights. Take that, Citizens United v. FEC!
Also, Congress should , for and lift the ban on private funding of abortions on military bases.
While they are at it, Congress should repeal mandatory and and .
Dabbling in Foreign Affairs
Clearly, the interests of Hawaii legislators extend far beyond state and national boundaries.
Freaked out by African warlord Joseph Kony? Tell Obama and Congress to keep forces in Uganda until the .
Another resolution urges the United Nations to invite Taiwan to a .
Sure, that could anger China, but local legislators are looking our for that country, too: They’ve asked for for the largest country on Earth.
Meantime, lawmakers also want North Korea to join the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s .
Support for the Military
Speaking of the federal government, Hawaii legislators want to make sure that it , though that would seem to be a given because of the already enormous military presence here as well as the inevitability of the Asia-Pacific Century.
Lawmakers also want a separate branch of the Armed Forces to deal with .
Here at home, there is a state Capitol memorial to honor the veterans of the Persian Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn.
Honoring Folks ‘n’ Things
This is a very popular type of resolution, a feel-good measure that recognizes someone or something that has perhaps been overlooked.
This year, lawmakers are congratulating the University of Hawaii’s student newspaper — Ka Leo O Hawaii — on , honoring Army Private First Class Edward Barut for his and recognizing President Grover Cleveland for his .
Some of these resos seem premature or belated, however, like ones congratulating Norm Chow for becoming and of Daniel Akaka to be inducted into the Aloha Order of Merit. Chow has yet to coach a UH game, while Akaka is being honored quite late in his career.
Finally, there are those resos whose existence will not likely be marked on many calendars — like making the first week of October , declaring Sundays and asking the governor to proclaim July 13, 2012, as .
Furthering Education
Know what STEM stands for?
That’s right: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics initiatives in the schools.
It might get , though, with the addition of Agriculture.
There’s also the idea of asking the City and County of Honolulu to study the issue of locations. (Who knew there were frats in Hawaii?)
Here’s an only-in-Hawaii reso: Encouraging banks and credit unions to incorporate the .
And then there is this resolution: Requesting the Department of Eduction to between children who are late-born and the high school dropout rate.
The Body Sacred
Apparently, there is something amiss in the body-piercing industry, because lawmakers are .
And, apparently, pregnant woman may not know that it is dangerous to drink alcohol, so retailers .
And, apparently our kupuna are having a lot of unprotected sex: The Department of Health is being asked to conduct a study of .
I could go on and tell you about resolutions having to do with the the serpent’s head cowry shell and food-bearing trees and loud mopeds near hospitals and big beach tarps and the friendship between the people of Hawaii and Yerevan, Armenia.
Instead, I encourage you to view the entire bunch:
Or not.
