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After a campaign year of promises from Gov. Josh Greene, state legislative leaders appear poised for both action and results.
Early reactions from majority leaders indicate that Green’s first year plan was not met with unquestionable admiration.
During last week’s webcast of Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s “Spotlight Hawaii” livestream program, Senate Speaker Ron Kouchi and House Speaker Scott Saiki all got serious about analyzing Green’s agenda.
The 2023 Legislative Session looks unpredictable, with 16 new members joining the House, the Senate losing several credible Democratic leaders, and a new governor with an agenda of its own.
With the election season over, Kouchi and Saiki appear ready to run the state, clearly indicating that Green’s proposal will be disposed of according to the will of Congress.
Even before Green moved tax cuts and proposals to restructure how Hawaii treats and bills tourists, Kouchi warned the new governor that his cabinet would have to be approved by the Senate.
Green was chairman of the legislative committee (Health), but not the primary political operator of the state capitol, and he and his potential cabinet must prove leadership qualities.
Kouchi, who said he didn’t know about a third of Green’s candidates, predicted the session would be a somewhat awkward acquaintance.
“At this point, I told most people I spoke to that I was not yet ready to commit to support. I think I will make a follow-up schedule.
Green’s early promises to abolish the general excise tax on food and medicine were quickly questioned by lawmakers familiar with GET history.
Over the years, taxes have been levied so that many local citizens in need of financial assistance do not pay taxes on food, medicine, or health care, but rather those who can afford it. I explained that it has been changed.
GET is very effective in collecting money. With few exceptions, the state gets a portion of the exchange when money moves from one person or entity to another. Economists estimate that a quarter to a third of all GETs are paid by visitors, not residents. Leaders like Saeki and Kochi don’t want to stop such efficient fundraising schemes.
Green said in a Honolulu Star-Advertiser report: Decisive and purposeful. ”
No matter who the governor is, he never hesitates to give advice. Kawachi and Saeki said in an interview last week that Green has a lot to learn.
“He will be action oriented. Sometimes I have to think about the answer to the question,” said Saiki.
In something of a signal to move forward with local politics in 2023, Kouchi said he saw Lt. Sylvia Luke waiting for a meeting with Greene as he left the governor’s office last week. , as a legislative veteran holding key posts in Green’s administration, Luke could be something of a traffic cop providing legislative and executive coordination.
Richard Borreka writes about Sunday politics. Please contact him at 808onpolitics@gmail.com.
