The newly-minted Windward Senate Democrat Gil Riviere explained the entire issue facing legislators voting on the city’s over-budget heavy rail project.

"This should not be an argument about pro-rail or anti-rail. I’m not opposed to the completion of the project. I am opposed to giving them whatever they want," said Riviere in a floor speech this week.

Riviere was one of three votes against the Senate version of the rail bill, SB 19.

Although he first served in the House as a Republican, Riviere became a Democrat last year and won former Sen. Clayton Hee’s district seat. He was joined in voting against the rail bill by Sen. Laura Thielen, a Democrat, and Sen. Sam Slom, the only Senate Republican.

Over in the House, another version of the rail bailout bill was also moving, with a larger flutter of no votes.

After listening to weeks of testimony from city transit officials and Mayor Kirk Caldwell, it turned out that this Legislature was the Legislature that says "Yes."

The proposals that passed may not have been blank checks, but they showed that the state is not going to kill rail.

The actions are important because they demonstrate to all the rail critics, who continue to argue that the project must stop now, that they will not get their wish.

The city plan may be flawed, but it will not die because of a critical Legislature.

The Senate in its Ways and Means Committee report grumbled that the city has "its perennial financial challenges."

"HART has experienced significant financial difficulties that will result in a projected deficit of over $869 million if no extension is granted and is calling into question the ability of them to complete the project on time," read the committee report.

What the city wants is an unending run of the 12.5 percent general excise tax increase for Oahu that is supposed to stop in 2022.

The Senate and House attack the deficit from different angles.

The House chops the increase in half and leaves open for discussion how long that increase would last.

The Senate extends it for five more years and then calls for a bunch of audits.

HART is directed by the Senate to explain how the rail will mesh with transit-oriented development, projected population growth and "how each rail station will be integrated with surrounding buildings and structures."

In other words, give them a few promises and show the Legislature some drawings of rail stations and you get the money.

The Legislature could have said, "No more money; go make all the promised transit-oriented developers show some real money."

Or the Legislature could have said this is the time for the still-silent Honolulu City Council to get on the record with a resolution saying the city will be responsible for cost overruns.

Instead, the Legislature’s thinking on rail financing winds up like that often-quoted line from "Pretty Woman," where Julia Roberts, playing a hooker, tells client Richard Gere:

"I appreciate this whole seduction thing you’ve got going on here, but let me give you a tip: I’m a sure thing."

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