Legislative Session Moved Forward Aggressively on Key Goals By Speaker of the House Calvin Say And House Majority Leader Kirk Caldwell Lingle administration policy advisor Linda Smith's opinion piece in the May 2nd Honolulu Advertiser is criticism for criticism's sake. Smith either does not understand what happened this legislative session or is intentionally ignoring it. This kind of political bickering serves no one. Contrary to Linda Smith's opinions, this was the most productive and comprehensive session for land conservation, renewable energy, and agriculture that we have had since Governor Lingle took office. Additionally, the legislature took a prudent approach to the state budget which faced fiscal reality and still addressed our most pressing needs. Here are some examples of the initiatives taken by the House and Senate this session: Renewable Energy The legislature passed a bill to place solar water heating units on the roofs of all new housing developments, eliminating the need for one of the most energy-hungry appliances in the home. Another measure will allow photovoltaic energy generators on lower grade agricultural lands, allowing us to actually "farm the sun." We also passed bills to further incentivize residential photovoltaic units and net energy metering that can make homes and businesses renewable energy generators.

We also created a coordinated system for renewable energy facility siting which will expedite the process for needed permits without compromising necessary safeguards. With the current process for large facilities taking as long as ten years, this crucial piece of legislation would allow producers of wind or solar energy to get operations up and running in as little as half the time.

Agriculture and Open Space

Additionally, the legislature passed a bill that permits the use of lands in

agricultural districts for agricultural-energy facilities when the production, storage, and

distribution of renewable energy are integrated with an agricultural activity. Growing our own fuel sources won't just happen magically. It needs a comprehensive planning framework. We have provided it and hope that the administration and private sector will team up to move assertively on these important goals. The legislature also fulfilled a 30-year-old mandate to begin the designation of "important agricultural lands" by establishing a set of incentives including tax credits, loan guarantees, and zoning accommodations for private landowners who agree to preserve their lands for agricultural production, be it for food or renewable fuels. Regarding open space, we also continued our efforts begun three years ago to preserve our most treasured open spaces by authorizing negotiations to purchase the Galbraith estate lands on the North Shore of Oahu, and establishing a commission to oversee the management of the Haiku Valley Cultural Preserve on the windward side of the island. To preserve other lands, the legislature established a tax incentive for private property owners to donate special lands into conservation forever. Hopefully, this program will result in protecting valuable shorelines, forests and other uniquely Hawaiian lands for the generations to come. Environmental Protection The legislature passed measures to statutorily establish a biosecurity program and for the planning and construction of new, jointly run federal and state biosecurity facilities at our airports and harbors.

Bills were also passed to step up actions to prevent the influx of invasive species. With the threat of brown tree snakes, fire ants and other alien species, this is not something we can do later. We also passed a measure to facilitate the recycling of electronic devices, which, often loaded with mercury and other potentially harmful substances, are becoming an increasingly larger challenge to landfills and our environment to protect the earth. Fiscal Responsibility The legislature's determination to restrain spending does not come easily when there are so many needs felt by people and so many state responsibilities to fulfill.

Certainly, everyone could make good use of a tax rebate, but the fact is that Hawaii's economy is slowing dramatically and the state budget must account for the slowdown. In a six-month period from September of '07 to March of '08, the State Council on Revenues estimate for net revenue growth dropped over 30%. Keep in mind that this was before the airline failures, the closure of Molokai Ranch and the loss of cruise ship business, so clearly, these numbers will drop even further. And just like everyone else managing a checkbook, the State is finding that inflation is eating up most, if not all, of any potential savings. In the face of these facts, we focused our capital improvement priorities on the aging infrastructure of our public schools and university campuses, harbors, airports, and housing. In the case of operating expenditures, the legislature also made some very hard choices, yet still succeeded in providing much-needed funding for our medically underserved and elderly populations. Specifically, the budget includes $5.7 million for hospitals to help the uninsured (which will leverage another $7 million in federal funding), $1 million for federally qualified health centers, $1 million for pedestrian safety measures, increased payments for adult residential care homes, and funding for elderly care and a long-term care commission. And, without spending additional dollars, expanded Keiki Care health insurance for the children of former employees of businesses that recently closed, like Aloha Airlines. We appreciate the Governor's stated optimism about the economy, but it will not pay the bills. Because the administration so willingly took the credit when our economy was pumping away, it must take responsibility as we move into tougher times. Linda Smith blaming the legislature is the same old rhetoric and will not address the major economic concerns in front of us. This year's legislature realistically faced a worsening economic picture and put the budget into balance. We passed comprehensive legislation in areas that affirm in real action the need to develop our own energy sources, protect our environment, and conserve our precious lands. Hawaii's lawmakers have done a good job for the people of our state this session, and no amount of armchair quarterback criticism can take that away.