Months ago Hawai’i legislators were told to hold August 25-29, September 29-October 3, and November 17-21 for a possible special session to deal with the anticipated Trump budget cuts.

The Legislature convened a special session in 2017 to deal with the Honolulu fixed rail project.

One would think hauling people away in the middle of the night without due process, and the Trump Administration attacks upon all areas of civil society would warrant at least the same degree of attention as “rail”.

One would think.

The needs are great and we cannot wait until the next regular session.

There’s nothing regular about the times we’re living in.

Coming up with the State funds necessary to offset the impacts of Federal funding cuts impacting Hawai’i public schools, health care, nutrition assistance, environmental protection, and other essential public services – is priority #1.

“Fixing” the deeply flawed SB933 (4 politicians empowered to award $50,000,000 to nonprofits behind closed doors) is just one of several legislative actions, that cannot wait until the “regular” session.

Mahalo to Representative Della Belatti for proposing this fix and strongly speaking in support of convening a much needed special session. Mahalo also to Representatives: Kim Coco Iwamoto, Kanani Souza, and House Majority Whip Amy Perruso for joining in that support.

Rep. Perruso also supports including in the special session a measure prohibiting law enforcement officers from hiding their identity behind masks while making arrests, requiring visible credentials, and ensuring due process. In addition she’s advocating for passage of a bill banning state contractors and their immediate families from donating to political campaigns (pay to play).

These 3 items: No secret police, fix SB933, and close the contractor “pay to play” loophole – represent a good start.

I believe however the people deserve more.

We have an affordable housing crisis that needs emergency ACTION, not just an emergency declaration.

Sweeping the unsheltered from public view should be the crime, not sleeping in your car or in the bushes at the side of the road – when there’s literally no other legal place to sleep.

Restoring faith and confidence in government, must also be a priority.

Strengthening campaign spending laws, ending the “two ticket to a fundraiser” scam allowing the transfer of money between candidates, closing the “contractor family and friends loophole”, and passing publicly funded elections – would be huge steps in the right direction.

Special sessions can be called by the governor or by a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate and may last up to 30 days.

Please join me now in reaching out to every legislator in that big square building.

Contact first, your district Senator and Representative – (name/contact info here https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/fyl/ ) AND then contact Senate President Ronald Kouchi (808-586-6030 senkouchi@capitol.hawaii.gov ) and House Speaker Nadine Nakamura (808-586-6100 repnakamura@capitol.hawaii.gov ).

Let them know you’re counting on them to support a special session.

Should they say there’s not enough time in a special session to do what’s needed, remind them they can and should start now, form working groups, hold hearings, fine-tune bills – and then during the actual 30 day special session conduct the final hearings and votes.

Inevitably they will bring up the money, or lack thereof.

Remind them gently yet firmly that last year they approved tax cuts that will cost Hawai’i over $1.4 billion per year. (Hawai’i Appleseed)

Suggest that perhaps during the special session they should claw back a billion or so from the wealthy beneficiaries of both the Hawai’i 2024 tax cuts and those contained in Trumps BBB.

We need thoughtful, proactive, positive action, not excuses for putting things off to another day.

That day is now. Please make the calls and send the email.

Let’s do this.

Gary Hooser