Senate Overrides Governor’s Veto, but House Doesn’t Take Up the Issue
Gov. Neil Abercrombie vetoed a bill that involved the military’s Tricare program.
The Senate had voted unanimously to support the bill, and in a surprise twist last Thursday, voted unanimously to override the governor’s veto.
However, House Speaker Calvin Say never brought the bill up in the House so the veto stood.
Since 1962, there has been only one override of a Democrat Governor’s veto.
That was Gov. Ben Cayetano on the subject of age of consent.
The Democrat controlled legislature overrode more than 100 vetoes of Republican Governor Lingle during her eight years in office.
The Governor has until June 25 to release a list of any additional vetoes.
His final action on all bills must be taken by July 10.
Former Gov. Ben Cayetano Expects Opponents to Outspend Him 20-1 in Mayoral Election
With billions of dollars at stake, several unions have injected themselves into the race, along with big business leaders, who have formed several groups to promote the rail project and the importance of keeping it on track.
That includes campaigns by Go Rail Go, Pacific Resource Partnership, Move Oahu Forward, Imua Rail and the city’s Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation.
Cayetano said he expects these groups to collectively spend between $15 million and $20 million to keep him from being elected. They will outspend him 20-1, he said.
Between attacks coming from Go Rail Go, all the union power, Pacific Resource Partnership, Move Oahu Forward, Imua Rail, HART, two well funded mayoral opponents, and U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye, the third most powerful man in the federal government, does Cayetano feel like he is being ganged up on?
“I feel excited. I feel like this can be a transforming election, where people can take back the government. That is how I feel about this. Because for the first time in all of my nine elections, I have been through 8 already, the power is all on the other side,” Cayetano said.
“I have been in this game long enough to know that there is something going on. And I think that in the end, I don’t care how much they spend, they are going to spend $15 to $20 million, they will outspend us 20-1, but we have the facts on our side and the people on our side.”
Hawaii GOP Promises Inspiring, Informative and Invigorating Convention
The Hawaii GOP will hold its 2012 Hawaii Republican Party State Convention is this weekend, May 11th and 12th, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
An email from David Chang, chairman of the party, said the 2012 HRP State Convention promises to be “inspiring, informative and invigorating.”
“This year we will be electing our National Committeeman and Committeewoman. The NCM and NCW is our representative, advocate and facilitator on the Republican National Committee. We will also be reviewing party platform resolutions, celebrating all of our outstanding Republican candidates, and hearing from HRP leaders regarding the state of the Party,” he said.
Some of the big GOP stars who will be in attendance include former Gov. Linda Lingle, candidate for U.S. Senate, former Congressman Charles Djou, running for another term in congress, and several legislators.
Like Hawaii state legislators do annually, the Hawaii GOP is helping to bring in donations for the Hawaii Foodbank.
“I’m looking forward to all of the activities at the 2012 convention, but what I am most excited about is our charity drive. This year in an effort to help feed Hawaii’s hungry, the HRP is teaming up with the Hawaii Food Bank at the 2012 State Convention to collect canned food donations,” Chang said. “We believe it is our responsibility to help the Hawaii Food Bank serve our community since the future is our responsibility. Now, more than ever the Hawaii Food Bank needs our help and resources in combating hunger throughout the islands.”
More on the web at www.gophawaii.com