The coalition of dissident Democrats and minority Republicans that brought state House Speaker Joseph Souki to power last year has officially ended.
Souki’s postelection reorganization of the House reflects his expanded support among Democrats and sheds the alliance with Republicans, who had held three committee vice chairmanships — including the vice chairmanship of the House Finance Committee — through the coalition.
The leadership roster and committee assignments the House announced on Wednesday included few other significant changes. House Majority Leader Scott Saiki (D, Downtown-Kakaako-McCully) kept his post as shepherd of the 43-member Democratic caucus, as did Rep. Sylvia Luke (D, Punchbowl-Pauoa-Nuuanu), the chairwoman of the House Finance Committee, and Rep. Karl Rhoads (D, Chinatown-Iwilei-Kalihi), the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
From a policy standpoint, the most interesting change could be the selection of Rep. Clift Tsuji (D, Hilo-Waiakea-Keaukaha) to replace former Rep. Jessica Wooley, the director of the state Office of Environmental Quality Control, as head of the House Agriculture Committee.
Wooley had been an advocate for labeling genetically modified foods and placing other restrictions on GMOs, while Tsuji opposes GMO labeling and, when he previously led the committee, was once named co-legislator of the year by the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, a trade group for biotechnology firms.
Anti-GMO activists such as Babes Against Biotech had urged House leaders not to name Tsuji to the post. Voter Owned Hawaii, an interest group that speaks out against the influence of money in politics, also cited campaign contributions to Tsuji from biotechnology interests as a potential conflict.
But House leaders noted that state Sen. Russell Ruderman (D, Puna), who was chosen last week as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, owns Island Naturals, a chain of stores on Hawaii island that specializes in natural and organic foods. Ruderman has been a vocal proponent of GMO regulation.
"Both chairs, on both sides, both have certain biases," Souki (D, Waihee-Waiehu-Wailuku) said.
Souki expects the committee to look at agriculture more broadly than GMOs, an emotional and divisive issue that has split communities, particularly on the neighbor islands. Hawaii island and Kauai have passed county ordinances on GMOs that are being challenged in court, while Maui voters approved a ballot initiative last week that placed a moratorium on GMO crops that will also likely face legal challenges.
"I think there’s a lot more to do than just GMOs," Souki said.
House Republicans, meanwhile, appear divided.
Last week, House Minority Leader Aaron Ling Johanson (R, Fort Shafter-Moanalua Gardens-Aliamanu) had the support of five of the eight Republicans to remain leader. But Rep. Feki Pouha (R, Waialua-Kahuku-Waiahole), a freshman, confirmed Wednesday that he has pulled his support from Johanson.
