The Conference Committee of the Hawaii House and Senate met this morning on HB 117 and HB 118, for about an hour. Each of the House and Senate described some of the differences between their respective versions. They then adjourned, subject to being called together at any time without the further need for 48 hours notice.
HB 117 would give the Legislature the power to restrict marriage to heterosexual couples. HB 118 would grant "reciprocal beneficiaries", defined to be couples who can't otherwise marry (including mother and son, father and daughter, two sisters, etc., in the House version), a list of limited rights (e.g., hospital visitation). The House and Senate differ on the list of rights. On HB 117, they differ on the wording and the placement of the amendment (where in the Constitution would it go).
The Legislature adjourns near the end of April/early May. However, constitutional actions require special notice to the governor (who otherwise does not play a role) which pushes back the deadline for passing something this session of the Legislature.
Rep. Terry Tom seemed to speaking to the media and not to the senators; it's a safe bet that he managed to insult all of them. This morning, the House did not offer the Senate dialogue on the issue.
The senators offered detailed responses and reasoning for specific clauses
under discussion. The House side didn't seem interested in hearing
facts of either law or economics. Especially, when former insurance
commissioner Senator Wayne Metcalf offered data that health benefits for
"reciprocal beneficiaries" have lower costs than pregnancies among heterosexual
couples (and are therefore cheaper to provide), Terrance Tom simply repeated
his assertion that the benefits proposed by the Senate would increase cost.
[My mind is made up, don't confuse me with the facts.]
Tom Ramsey
President, Friends of h.e.r.m.p
Ex-officio, Steering Committee of the Hawaii Marriage - Project
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