Hawaii Legislature begins 2016 session, focuses on homeless

HONOLULU — Homelessness and affordable housing will be key topics as the Hawaii Legislature begins its 2016 session, with Democrats and Republicans emphasizing the need for action.

The House and Senate began their legislative session Wednesday, talking about the need to create a more economically viable community.

People sang and chanted outside the chambers about protecting Hawaii’s delicate environment, and students and families lined up to get a seat before the session began.

Democratic House Speaker Joe Souki began the session with a moment of silence for the 12 Marines who are missing after a helicopter crash last week.

“Let’s pause to remember that those Marines and their families have all sacrificed so much and have put their lives on the lines in service to our country in times of peace and war,” Souki said.

Wearing flower lei, state senators sang “Hawaii Ponoi,” a song honoring the late King Kamehameha, as Democratic Senate President Ronald Kouchi began the chamber’s first official meeting of the year.

Kouchi talked about the importance of creating more affordable housing, relaying how during his own childhood his family rented and did not own their home.

“The problem isn’t just here on Oahu,” said Kouchi, who represents Kauai. “The problem is statewide.”

Senators have been combing their districts to identify existing housing inventory that’s in need of repair, to make sure every available property is being utilized, Sen. J. Kalani English, the Democratic Majority Leader, told reporters.

“Let’s get some repair and maintenance in there, let’s get it fixed…that’s a very quick and easy fix,” English said. Allocating money for affordable housing will help achieve a long-term solution, and higher wages also would help, English said. “We know that many people are less than one paycheck away from homelessness, so we have to examine that as well.”

On the House side, homelessness and affordable housing are a top priority for both Souki and Democratic Majority Leader Scott Saiki.

“Homelessness seems as entrenched as any issue we’ve faced in recent times,” Souki said. “Providing an adequate supply of affordable housing is the correct long-term solution so that families don’t fall into homelessness and despair.”

Saiki emphasized the state should focus on addressing recurring problems, such as homelessness, and to solve them using existing resources 7/8— for instance, by working directly with agencies like the Hawaii Public Housing Authority and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to fix lengthy waitlists.

“The crisis is so bad it can’t really be shifted to the side,” said the Rev. Bob Nakata, a housing advocate and former state senator. Nakata said he’s hopeful that the Legislature will provide more money for affordable housing this year.

Lawmakers also talked about the need for more oversight about how the state is spending the taxpayers’ money.

“The Legislature must be more accountable for unfulfilled promises, wasted tax money, poorly written contracts and unenforceable legislation,” said Sen. Sam Slom, the Senate’s lone Republican, adding that the state wasted about $150 million on the Hawaii Health Connector.

On the issue of health care, Souki said he plans to introduce legislation to require practicing doctors in Hawaii to treat Medicare and Medicaid patients. If Hawaii physicians refused to treat patients insured by Medicare or Medicaid, they wouldn’t be able to reapply for a state physician’s license, he said.

“We cannot continue going with people not being treated because they don’t have the income,” Souki said. “That is wrong.”

Democratic Rep. Matt LoPresti said he planned to introduce legislation to regulate police body cameras and to protect online privacy for students and adults.

“We need to realize that legislation has not kept up with the technology,” LoPresti said in a news conference. “We should be able to keep our social media profiles private.”