Monday is the 49th day of the 60-day session

SECOND CROSSOVER

The state House and Senate exchanged bills at second crossover on Thursday, an important procedural deadline before final negotiations begin in conference committee.

Among the issues still alive are a tax exemption for ethanol-blended gas, health-insurance rate regulation, a tax break on food, drug-testing for public-school teachers, and expanded regional affiliates within the state's public-hospital system.

Over the next few weeks, lawmakers will also make decisions on the state budget, tax relief and economic development proposals.

YOUNG CONFIRMATION

The Senate Water, Land, Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs Committee held three days of confirmation hearings on Peter Young as director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Environmentalists and Native Hawaiians, including some who had threatened to call for Young's resignation two years ago, enthusiastically supported his confirmation, arguing that he has listened to his critics and improved his management. Many fishermen, and some Native Hawaiians concerned about burial issues, told the panel Young should be rejected.

Fishermen have been critical of the director over lay gill net and bottomfishing restrictions, while some preservationists have complained that staff vacancies in the department's historic preservation division have led to a lack of protection for burial sites.

Several witnesses testified under subpoena, and some were heard in closed session because of legal and privacy issues.

The committee will make a recommendation on whether Young should be confirmed to the full Senate.

KOLLER CLEARS PANEL

The Senate Human Services and Public Housing Committee voted unanimously Thursday to recommend the confirmation of Lillian Koller as director of the state Department of Human Services.

Senators had listened to several hours of testimony celebrating Koller's leadership, but still had their concerns because of people in the department who were critical of the director but did not want to come forward publicly.

State Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland, D-13th (Kalihi, Nu'uanu), the committee's chairwoman, and state Sen. Les Ihara Jr., D-9th (Kapahulu, Kaimuki, Palolo), even met privately with Koller Wednesday night to go over issues related to welfare to work.

State Senate Minority Leader Fred Hemmings, R-25th (Kailua, Waimanalo, Hawai'i Kai), said the public testimony for Koller was overwhelming and that anything else is "hearsay and behind closed doors."

But Senate Democrats on the committee would not dismiss the unnamed critics.

"I will not diminish the value that they have," Chun Oakland said.

The committee vote was 5-0, but Ihara, state Senate Majority Leader Gary Hooser, D-7th (Kaua'i, Ni'ihau), and state Sen. Norman Sakamoto, D-15th (Waimalu, Airport, Salt Lake), voted with reservations.

Koller's nomination could reach the Senate floor for a vote on Wednesday.

Koller had apologized during the confirmation hearings if her intensity or tenacity offended anyone but said she was passionate about changing the department for the better.

"I don't doubt that there are those who are feeling pain," Koller told reporters after the committee vote. "I believe that a large measure of it was based on some misinformation."

OVERHEARD

"He's open. He's receptive. He engages people. He's responsive."

— Isaac Moriwake, an attorney for Earthjustice, in favor of Peter Young as director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources

COMING UP