Hawaii Family Forum Issues

Question: Would you vote to legalize physician-assisted suicide in Hawaii?

I answered: No.

Question: Would you vote to legalize any form of gambling in Hawaii?

I answered: No.

Why: Let’s be honest, if someone wants to gamble in Hawaii, it’s probably not hard to find a poker game or someone willing to take your bet on UH football. But legalizing gambling, while creating a revenue source, tends to exploit the members of the community that need help the most. Besides, there’s no shortage of cheap flights to Vegas and what happens there, stays there. Let’s not bring it here.

Question: Would you vote to increase state funding for affordable rental units in Hawaii?

I answered: No.

Why: I answered "no" because I don't think that it moves us ahead as a society to require the taxpayer to pay for another person's rent.

As a side note, I think too many people have forgotten that "state funding" is, one way or another, your money. So, let's call it what it is.

I believe that we need to improve our supply of affordable housing in Hawaii by making home ownership and rentals affordable. However, I do not want to resort to using your money to subsidize affordable rentals, except as a last resort.

I am also hesitant to throw your money at an issue without requiring effort from able-bodied beneficiaries. For example, I would support an effort to encourage programs where renters can receive reduction in rent for performing maintenance tasks that would otherwise add to the property owners' costs. Ideally, the property owners would receive incentives for taking on the additional management of the process.

I would support incentives for building, maintaining and converting properties to provide affordable rentals for working families, single parents and retirees. At the same time, I would also support requirements that those who live in the properties adhere to a higher degree of responsibility for caring for the properties in order to protect the taxpayers' investments in these facilities.

I would also object to tax increases to properties that provide affordable housing. I would not support legislation that encourages the elimination of affordable rental inventory.

Question: Would you vote for a civil union bill that would give same-sex couples the exact same parental rights as married couples with respect to adoption and child custody?

I answered: No.

Why: I would object to a "civil union bill" because "civil unions" would create an additional type of relationship in addition to the "Reciprocal Beneficiary" designation that is already recognized by the State of Hawaii. If the objective is provide equal rights for same sex couples, then amending laws regarding reciprocal beneficiaries is the appropriate path.

In 1998, the Hawaii State Constitution was amended to allow the legislature to reserve "marriage to opposite-sex couples." To make the amendment, the majority of Hawaii voters approved the amendment, as required, by ballot vote in the 1998 election.

A law can be passed without a ballot measure. The "civil union" bill that was passed in 2010 by the legislature, but vetoed by the Governor, essentially used the text of the marriage law and changed the term "marriage" to "civil union." Presumably, once these two categories have the same definitions in law, the courts could rule that civil unions are marriages which will circumvent the appropriate process for amending the constitution while ignoring the vote of the people.

I think that people mistakenly ask about HB444 or civil unions when what they want to know is "Are you against gay rights" or "Are you against same-sex marriage?" The answer to both is no, I am not against either. I believe that we are ultimately a better society when people have committed relationships of mutual love and respect. I believe it is not my place to judge or condemn others for their choices and lifestyle so long as their actions do not infringe on the legally-protected rights of others.

State recognition of same-sex marriage is another question still and I will approach that in a later post.

Question: Would you vote to give religious-affiliated health care institutions in Hawaii a conscience exemption in laws requiring hospitals to offer emergency contraceptives to sex assault victims?

I answered: Yes.

Why: I believe that the exemption is an important protection of religious practices.

Question: Would you vote for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman?

I answered: Yes.

Why: The Constitution already gives the legislature the power to "reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples." (HI State Constitution 1-23) In order to amend the Constitution to this more direct reservation of the definition of marriage, voters will have the opportunity to decide.

Question: Would you vote for term limits for legislature.

I answered: Yes.

Why: We've already seen the pervasive problem of legislators who become complacent and are extremely difficult to vote out of office. These days, large campaign budgets are required to get a candidate's message out to voters. Unions, PACs and corporations are the most common supporters of political campaigns. These groups rarely endorse or support members of minority parties, independents or challengers to incumbents.