It’s way past time for our elected Democrats to step up, support and FIGHT for the values and principles outlined within the Hawaii Democratic Party Platform.
We need those who wear the “D” during their election campaigns to prove they really are Democrats.
Unfortunately, too many are Democrats in name only (DINOs).
They say the right things and brag about “liberal” values, but in their hearts they’re corporatists, masquerading as centrists, and dressed like Democrats.
Their natural inclination is to side with the Money — big business, developers, large landowners, and the wealthiest among us.
Our state Legislature is full of them.
One would think having such a large majority of Democrats serving in the Legislature would equate to the passage of forward-thinking public policy strongly aligned with the Hawai’i Democratic Party platform.
One would think.
After all, it’s pretty basic, non-controversial stuff.
For example, the official Democratic Party platform “supports measures to drastically reduce income and wealth inequality.”
It goes without saying that Hawai’i is way behind on this one.
Just talk to the folks working full-time and yet still forced to live in their car due to low wages and the high cost of housing.
Another key platform goal: “Protect and restore the civil and human rights of each person.”
Unfortunately, too many Democrats now in office support increased criminalization of the houseless, oppose criminal justice reform and are keeping their head in the sand when it comes to ICE and immigration.
”We believe government officials should … support full transparency in all government functions.” To say this foundational principle is regularly ignored by incumbent Democrats at the Legislature is a gross understatement.
We need Hawai’i Democratic lawmakers to step up and do the job we’ve elected them to do.
In 2023, in a single year Minnesota passed legislation that included: free breakfast and lunch for all children in school; a state-run paid family and medical leave program; legalized recreational cannabis; free in-state college tuition; a reduction of taxes for low and middle-income households; a ban on PFAS “forever chemicals;” codified abortion rights; boosted funding for schools and more.
Massachusetts voters recently approved a “millionaires tax” that generated $2.46 billion in its first full year AND the millionaires are not fleeing the state because taxes are too high.
Hawai’i DINOs actually reduced taxes for our own millionaires last year. AND the Trump administrations Big Ugly Bill has reduced their taxes even more.
Connecticut is a blue state that takes political corruption so seriously they passed a law making “failure to report public bribery” a criminal offense. If a public servant is aware their boss, or a colleague is on the take, they are legally required to report it or also be guilty of a crime.
I’ve gotta ask: Where’s OUR Big Beautiful Bill that increases taxes on the very rich AND attacks the root of “pay to play” culture in that big square building?
Where’s our own comprehensive legislative agenda that supports Democratic Party values such as: eradicating income inequality, protecting civil rights and due process, decriminalizing poverty, expanding free healthcare, reimagining public safety, campaign spending reform, increased transparency, and building true permanently affordable housing?
It’s not too late. Our Hawai’i Democratic legislators could — no, they SHOULD, and they MUST — call a Special Session to lessen the impact of the Big Bad Ugly Bill on our state.
And while they’re at it, they MUST take that opportunity to prove who they really are — and what they stand for.
Local Party leadership and rank-and-file Democrats must insist that Democrats elected as Democrats begin ACTING like Democrats.
We can reform the Party, leave the Party, or join/start another Party.
All options are on the table.
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Gary Hooser served eight years in the state Senate, where he was majority leader. He also served for eight years on the Kaua‘i County Council. He presently writes on Hawai‘i Policy and Politics at www.garyhooser.blog.
Source: The Garden Island
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