No Con Con? Then Legislature Needs to Act

Now that the convening of a Constitutional Convention will not transpire for at least another decade, it is time for the state Legislature to do its work and prove to us the right decision was made. In my position as the Ewa Neighborhood Board’s Legislative Committee chairman, our committee examined a method to resolve our transportation dilemma within our own backyard and the conclusion was that the solution required that the state’s Constitution be amended. As it stands, the Constitution prohibits private land developers from being in receipt of Special Purpose Revenue Bonds.

ConCon foes' big spending seen as big impact on Hawaii ballot | HonoluluAdvertiser.com | The Honolulu Advertiser

The Hawai'i Alliance, a group of labor, environmental and business interests opposed to a state Constitutional Convention, received large contributions from the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Hawai'i Government Employees Association in the last days before Tuesday's vote. OHA and the HGEA Ballot Committee each gave the group $100,000, campaign-finance records show, part of $247,000 in last-minute donations from public workers, hotel, teachers' and firefighters' unions.

Public Conned Out of a Con Con

A constitutional convention could have facilitated debate on, among other issues, whether we should decentralize the public education system, update Hawaii’s energy policies, legalize recall, initiative and referendum on a statewide level, institute term limits for legislators and judges, elect our attorney general, or better balance our criminal justice system so it treats victims equally with the accused criminals.

Constitutional Convention draws mixed reactions | HonoluluAdvertiser.com | The Honolulu Advertiser

Pauahi Ioane, a 47-year-old city bus driver, voted to call for a Constitutional Convention in 2010 to improve life in Hawai'i. "It could be for the better," Ioane said. "There's some things that could be improved." But Rod Frias, a 35-year-old construction worker, believes the so-called "ConCon" would cost too much money at a time when the city is looking to make drastic budget cuts.

Constitutional Convention issue loses 2-1

Hawaii voters may have embraced change touted by President-elect Barack Obama, but they weren't comfortable with changing the state Constitution. A proposal to convene a Constitutional Convention was rejected nearly 2-to-1 Tuesday. Supporters said a convention could address issues elected lawmakers won't tackle, such as education and health care reform, local control and term limits.