Souki’s alliance with GOP ruffles Democratic feathers

Rarely do political leaders describe their caucuses or meetings as "slugfests," but then, Maui Democrat Rep. Joe Souki is turning out to be anything but ordinary.

At 80, Souki might be mulling over his retirement, but he is instead prepping for Wednesday’s meeting of all 44 House Democrats.

Souki is calculating that at the meeting, he will be able to solidify his hold on the state House and return as speaker.

Souki wants to start pushing the Democrats to organize for the coming legislative session, "but we need to get through the slugfest first," he says.

According to Souki and his fellow Democrats, there are already the 26 needed votes among Democrats for Souki to win the speakership, but Souki started his climb back to power by organizing with the seven House Republicans in an unprecedented coalition. Now Souki says he won’t disavow the early GOP support.

While the state Senate once briefly operated with both Democrats and the GOP holding leadership positions, the state House has never been run by both.

If Souki is successful tomorrow, he will do it by ousting House Speaker Rep. Calvin Say, 60, who replaced Souki 13 years ago.

The battle for power has become something of an old-timers brawl, with even former Democratic Gov. George Ariyoshi, 86, in a letter sent last month, pleading with the House Democrats to drop their GOP buddies.

"What is the price to be paid for such Republican votes? Is it modification of any measure to suit their needs, to receive their support?" asked Ariyoshi.

To Souki, a Realtor, the bargain was much simpler: three GOP members will become vice chairmen of three committees. Even though one of the committees is the unusually powerful Finance Committee, Souki argued this is not going to knock the Earth off its axis.

"We have 51 members, this is about three vice chairmen, there is no damage to the Democratic Party," Souki said in an interview.

If organizing with the GOP is Democratic Party heresy, out in the real world, there has been a sustained argument that bipartisan cooperation has its good points.

"It could be that more future legislators would be bipartisan," Souki predicted. "I think it will be more idealistic and issue oriented rather than political party oriented."

After acknowledging that the Democrats and Republicans are still capable of "bloody fights" during the general election, Souki said he can see the coalition minimizing the continual GOP complaint that the Democratic super-majority in the Legislature tramples the GOP.

"I believe the results of bipartisanship will be better for the state. They will still find candidates to run against us and we find candidates to run against them, but I think this can soften the arguments from the GOP," Souki said.

What has not been discussed in all the political muscle-flexing are the issues that will change with the Souki Democrats cleaning out the Say Democrats.

Even Souki admitted he has not had time to hold a caucus on a majority policy platform.

"Planning meetings are being scheduled. Leadership will be meeting. Maybe we can bring it up … after we get through with the slugfest," Souki said.

It doesn’t sound like Souki has strayed too far from the Democratic motto: Fight first, plan later.

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Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.