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Legislative Roadshow
Over a decade ago, I designed a Legislative Roadshow to actually "Take the Legislature" to students in my district. The program is designed to educate children on the Legislative process and allow them to voice their opinions on the issues that directly affect them and their families.
This year we asked the students to consider two bills; HB 398 which allows the county to have jurisdiction over the use of private fireworks with an eye toward limiting their usage and Senate Bill 760 which prohibits the use of cell phones while operating a vehicle, unless a hands-free device is being used. In preparation for the "mock hearings" my staff and I conduct at the Roadshow, we asked the students to prepare and present their own testimony in front of us as if they were really testifying at the Capitol.
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There was an equal divide between students opposing and supporting any kind of control a county could possibly exercise over the use of fireworks, though the majority emphasized that they would be disappointed if a complete ban of fireworks would result. Family tradition and opportunities to celebrate the holidays in more meaningful ways were frequently raised as oppositional arguments as students passionately debated the pros and cons of passing the bill. Many felt that leaving the decision to ban fireworks to counties could negatively affect the rich holiday traditions that have been established in Hawaii.
The students who argued in favor of the bill specifically hit on the numerous health hazards posed by the resulting air pollution. Many had personally witnessed family members and pets suffering during the holidays and felt that the privilege of being able to pop fireworks was being abused. Some students also indicated that the resulting noise pollution has frightened their pets, causing them to wander away.
When the students addressed the issue of using cell phones while driving, a surprisingly large majority felt that the dangers outweighed the benefits. While some argued that cell phones were necessary in the case of an emergency or for work purpose, a majority felt that it was safer to ban phones from cars altogether citing that it was the conversation itself that distracts an individual mentally from the road. Others in support of a ban added that the use of cell phones slows reaction times, especially when text messaging is factored into the equation.
The Roadshow is a truly special time for me. In too many cases we don't give youngsters an opportunity to speak out on issues that directly affect them, such as fireworks and using a cell phone while driving. Programs such as the Legislative Roadshow help Legislators get a broader sense of the opinions of their constituency, and students can most certainly be counted as having an influence.
Representative Cynthia Thielen • State Capitol, Room 443 • 415 South Beretania Street • Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 • Phone: (808) 586-6480