In The News
Bills Pushed As Session Winds Down
May 2, 2006
KGMB-9
Bills Pushed As Session Winds Down
Alan Lu
With just two days left in the 2006 legislature, lawmakers were focused on getting their bills passed before the session ends on Thursday. Issues at the top of the list: smoking, affordable housing and the gasoline price cap.
Creators of a bill that would ban smoking in all public buildings, including bars, businesses, restaurants and all airports, were breathing much easier. That’s because the measure passed the House of Representatives and the Senate. It now goes to the Governor.
Another major bill that was moving forward was House Bill 3115. It’s designed to suspend Hawaii’s controversial gas cap law but would still let the Governor reinstate it at any time. It also requires the state to calculate the price of gas using the gas cap formula.
“So that (consumers) can compare the actual prices that the oil companies are going to charge with the prices that would’ve prevailed under pricing regulation,” said Sen. Ron Menor (D).
The Senate passed the measure Tuesday. The House makes its decision Thursday.
Another bill that was awaiting the House’s approval would protect thousands of families in the Kukui Gardens apartment from paying potentially sky-high rents. The bill would allow the state to purchase the affordable housing property.
The Senate passed it, although not everyone voted for it.
“The idea that we will guarantee rents for a certain group of people, we’re only talking about one group of people, in perpetuity really is not fair,” said Sen. Sam Slom (R).
Lawmakers return to the State Capitol Thursday for one final day of decision-making.
