IN a strange way, the state Legislature may be getting it. Slowly the Legislature is coming to realize that if the economy doesn't improve they are all toast. Solons learn (Shh!)
that economy is itWhat is not strange, however, is that both the Legislature and the governor are arriving at this conclusion after a series of secret, closed-door meetings.
In normal political times the speculation would be on the intriguing governor's race next year, but instead the gossip is all about how the Legislature and the governor are going to shake the state's economy awake.
To that end, the Senate Democrats spent last weekend at Barbers Point Naval Air Station letting down their hair with a representative bunch from business, labor, law and social services.
In what is becoming a defensive reflex for Democratic leaders in the Legislature and state government, the meetings were closed to the press and public. Lawmakers are finding that meeting on the other side of an armed military sentry at Barbers Point is the easiest way to control the message.
According to private citizens who attended the closed sessions, no one talked about specifics. There were no plans hatched, or any great revelations shared.
According to reviews from those attending, it wasn't the Council of Trent.
As one participant described it, the effort was on reinforcing the idea that personal relationships were important. There was no word on whether or not aroma and crystal therapy were also mentioned.
"There was much talk about a collective or shared vision," the Rev. Frank Chong, director of the Waikiki Health Center, reported.
Bette Tatum, a small business lobbyist, said it appeared the Senate was looking to get consensus from the community.
Of course, without having to bring up anything unpleasant, like the names of who will get a tax cut and who will get services chopped or denied, the meetings can be a real joy.
The governor has many of the same community people working on another task force to reform the economy. While the working groups have been able to perform in public, the actual task force will debate in secret.
Gov. Ben Cayetano said the secret meetings will let everyone honestly discuss the issues and reach a decision. As Tatum noted, however, "Senators are saying they have never seen the state in such turmoil."
Tatum, who has been around long enough to recall when she was Rep. Paul Oshiro's Little League team mom, adds that these conferences don't always produce results.
"But it was amazing that there was no argument among any group that we need major change," she said.
THE governor has his own special reason to compel change. His Democratic rival, Mayor Jeremy Harris, continues to say that next year's election will turn on the economy.
The equation is that good news from the unemployment line translates into good news for Cayetano.
So to summarize the events: Legislature meets in secret to get community behind it.
Then the governor calls together a business and labor panel to tell Legislature what to do.
What did they leave on the table? None of your business.
Is this any way to run a government?
Don't answer until November 1998.