Do we really want a "rubber stamp" Legislature?

by Keli'i Akina, Ph.D., President / CEO, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

I’m a big fan of cooperation. My colleagues and I at the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii are always looking for opportunities to work with people from across the political spectrum toward a common goal.

But this does not mean that we ignore our differences. In fact, too much agreement can sometimes cover up serious problems.

In politics, it could suggest a lack of openness and transparency. This often seems to be the case at the Hawaii Legislature, where new research has confirmed it is extremely rare to find anyone willing to vote against a bill.

In an article published this week headlined “Are Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Just Rubber-Stamping Bills Every Session?,” Honolulu Civil Beat reported that of the 94,561 votes cast during the 2025 session, 92,717 were “Yes” votes, and only 1,934 were “No” votes. That means Hawaii legislators voted “Yes” on bills 98% of the time.

Even when bills are controversial or have potentially large economic consequences, such as with the so-called Green Fee tax-hike bill, they often still sail through the session with nary a “No.”

This lack of open disagreement suggests that compromises and problems are being worked out behind the scenes, with little opportunity for the public to provide input.

There is probably no single reason this situation with Hawaii’s legislative process has come to be. But regardless, it is clear that the real victims of Hawaii’s “rubber stamp” Legislature are the state’s voters — because there are no meaningful voting records to examine and no useful way to compare different politicians regarding where they stand on important issues.

Contrary to the situation we have now, I suggest that a bit more open civil disagreement could help us make things better. Then through collaboration, we could more firmly challenge the status quo and find new answers to our problems.

For an example of how to work collaboratively in a way that respects our differences, consider attending Grassroot’s next luncheon event, Wednesday, Oct. 15, at which the participants will talk about ways to facilitate more homebuilding in Hawaii.

The keynote speaker will be U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, who in recent years has become a champion of removing regulatory barriers to housing, while the co-sponsor alongside Grassroot is the Hawai‘i Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, which also has recently proposed practical policy options that could help increase Hawaii’s housing supply.

There are plenty of philosophical differences between Grassroot and Hawai‘i Appleseed — and between Grassroot and Sen. Schatz as well. But that’s what makes this partnership all the more powerful. We recognize our differences, but we also seek common ground where together we can accomplish real change for a better Hawaii.

I'd like to see more of this kind of above-board collaboration on display at the Legislature.

E hana kākou! (Let's work together!)