Date: Sat, 12 Apr 1997 10:51:04 -1000
From: lambda@aloha.net (Martin Rice)
Subject: Report from the Hawai`i State Capitol #1

Aloha auwinala kakou.


Just returned from Honolulu as my Senator summoned me there very abruptly
yesterday.  I filed the following from a friend's computer (Bill Woods).
Don't know how many have seen this.  Sorry if it is a duplication.



(About 5pm yesterday)


7 hours . . . . tick . . . . tick . . . . tick . . . .

Martin here in Honolulu.

Just came from Senator Chumbley's office.  He was non-commital, but it looks
like tonight is the night for something to come out of committee.  

There will not be a Joint Conference Committee meeting *before* 9pm HST.

Earlier today it was reported that Rep. Tom had acquiesced to the Senate
position on HB 118 (the right's package) with the exception of state income
tax benefits.  When Tom expected the Senate conferees to come to his side on
HB 117 (the Constitutional Amendment defining marriage in terms of one man
and one woman), and the Senate conferees wouldn't budge, the meeting ended
with Tom screaming "F**k You!!  F**k You!! F**k You!!"

It appears that the haggling still going on is centered around language on HB
117, with the Senate hanging tough, but still trying to come to a compromise
that works with the House definition without giving up due process for our
side.

We'll go back to the capitol in a few hours and wait for the meeting, and
I'll report back as soon as possible.  The call has gone out for our
supporters to come down to the State Capitol later this evening.

A hui hou,

Martin


  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  "I don't understand your homophobia."
                              --Senator Avery Chumbley
                          ~~~~~
                     Fred and Martin
                        24 years,
                  yet strangers before
                         the law
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~