Sunday, May 19, 2013
Business Roundtable urges civil union veto
A letter to Gov. Lingle cites property rights and other issues of concern over HB 444
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jun 11, 2010
LAST UPDATED: 02:56 a.m. HST, Jul 07, 2010
A top business organization is urging Gov. Linda Lingle to veto House Bill 444, the civil unions bill.
In a letter dated June 4, the Hawaii Business Roundtable says its executive committee recommends the veto and supports the formation of a commission to study the issue and make recommendations for next legislative session.
"While the bill attempts to address inequities in rights and benefits for domestic partners, it creates many more new problems which need to be addressed," Gary K. Kai, executive director of the Roundtable, says in the letter.
"There are a number of questions that arise because of the manner in which the legislation was drafted such as 'voidance of the civil union,' and other questions that have implications in the areas of inheritance, employment benefits and property rights."
The Hawaii Business Roundtable is a public policy group of senior executives from top Hawaii companies.
Lingle is traveling in Asia and is not scheduled to return until the end of next week. She has until June 21 to notify the Legislature which bills she might veto, but she has until July 6 to make her decision.
Lingle has pledged to thoroughly study the issue before making a decision, but has stated previously that the language in the bill appears to be same-sex marriage by a different name, a concept she opposes.
House Bill 444 would grant the same rights, benefits, protections and responsibilities of spouses in a marriage to partners in a civil union. All couples would be allowed to enter into a civil union, provided they are 18 or older, not related and not married.
At least one House member is urging Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona to sign the bill in Lingle's absence. Aiona is a strong supporter of traditional marriage and is on the record as being opposed to HB 444.
But Rep. Tom Brower said this was Aiona's "chance to show he more than a seat warmer."
"As one of the 31 House members who supported civil unions, I encourage Aiona's support," Brower (D, Waikiki-Ala Moana), said in an e-mail. "It would send the message to Hawaii that its top government officials understand the difference between civil unions and traditional marriage, and that we have enough safeguards in our state Constitution to protect the sanctity of marriage."
RELATED STORIES
Couple fights for rights in public, but lives an ordinary private life
Both sides see same-sex marriage in future
Tears and cheers as Abercrombie signs bill
Bill on civil unions to be signed today
Tourism industry split over civil unions' effects
Civil unions to 'bring more people' here
Governor to sign civil unions bill into law next week
'Historic' bill OK'd by Senate
Composure prevails in debate over civil unions
Civil unions bill wins final approval; awaits governor's signature
Civil unions approval expected today
Civil unions on the brink of approval
Panel passes civil unions bill
With bill, Illinois clears civil unions
Testimony by young adults raises issues of religion and marriage
Civil unions bill advances out of Senate committee
Lawsuits seek federal benefits for gays
Legislative numbers favor civil unions law
Civil unions bill fails to shift voters
Isle pair upbeat on gay marriage
Ruling energizes civil-union advocates
Civil union opponents regroup after suit filed
Couples sue state over civil unions
Abercrombie stresses support for civil unions measure
Hannemann would veto civil unions
Civil unions veto backlash begins
Judge strikes at gay-union ban
Lingle vetoes civil-unions bill
Emotions run high through crowds
Consequences of HB 444 will be felt at the ballot box
The governor's full civil-unions veto statement
Governor will announce civil unions decision at 3 p.m.
Bankoh opposes civil-union bill veto
Civil-union letter splits firms
Rights group considers boycott involving HB 444
ON THE WEB
Civil unions bill on governor's list of potential vetoes
Business group says it is not against civil unions
Civil unions' fate unknown
Group backtracks on civil unions
Five large Hawaii businesses announce support for civil unions
Hawaiian Air, HEI disagree with Roundtable's call for veto of civil union bill
Hawaii Business Roundtable stands by call for a veto of the civil unions bill
First Hawaiian Bank: We're neutral on civil unions
5 more roundtable members split from group's stance over civil-union bill veto
Roundtable sticks to civil-unions stance
