Date: Mon, 23 Jun 1997 19:13:47 -1000
From: lambda@aloha.net (Martin Rice)
Subject: SA 012:  Reciprocal Beneficiaries Alert #2

Aloha ahi ahi kakou.

Updates on the new RB LAW:


1)  DEADLINE APPARENTLY PASSES, HB 118 BECOMES LAW:  Today, June 23rd, is
the last day for Governor Cayetano to veto any bills presented to him by the
1997 Legislature.  Only one 5pm newsbroadcast (the CBS affiliate) mentioned
what bills were vetoed, and the Reciprocal Beneficiaries bill was not one of
them.  The Governor did however, veto a bill that would have granted pay
raises to the Hawai`i State Judiciary, which has the distinction of having
the longest period of any state group to go without a raise--some seven years.

All four network-affiliates (ABC, NBC, CBS & FOX) did mention today's vetoed
bills (three, none of which are the new RB LAW!) on their 6pm editions
however.  The ABC affiliate also mentioned that Governor Cayetano is on the
mainland, so it appears that HB 118 WILL BECOME LAW WITHOUT HIS SIGNATURE.
This will be confirmed at a future date.

2)  AOL COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS:  Bill Woods, who is co-ordinating efforts to
have a July 1st "Mailbox Ceremony" in Lihu`e, has reported problems sending
and receiving e-mail, which can be confirmed.  If you have have sent
anything that has bounced back, he requests that you send it again
(hawaiigay1@aol.com) or call him at 808-532-9000.

3)  COUPLES' BIOS:  Bill is also requesting that those that want to take
part in the "Mailbox Blessing" submit a bio, first names only, ages,
occupations, city or town, short blurb on why each couples wants an RB, etc.
It is important that they be received as soon as possible.

4)  LIHU`E SITE SELECTED:  After scouting the mailboxes in Lihu`e, the best
one appears to be in front of the Post Office.  More on this at a future date.

5)  MAUI MAYOR, INADVERTENT FOE?  Maui County Mayor Linda Lingle has renewed
her call for a reconvening of the State Legislature to deal with the issue
of privatization of public services here in Hawai`i.  The problem is that
once reconvened, the Legislature can delve into any issue, including the
marriage issue again.  Under Hawai`i Law, two-thirds of each Chamber of the
Legislature (i.e. 17 Senators out of 25 AND 34 Represenatives out of 51)
must agree to reconvening or the Governor can reconvene the Legislature if
he sees fit to do so.

~~pau~~



  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  "To imply that lesbians and gay men are somehow incompatible 
   with, or incapable or unworthy of, marriage or morality is
              not morality; it is discrimination."
                                     --Dan Foley, Evan Wolfson
                                             and Kirk Cashmere
                                              Answering Brief,
                                                Baehr v. Miike
                              ~~~~~
                         Fred and Martin
                            24 years,
                      yet strangers before
                             the law
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~