Tuesday is Day 39 of the session. There are 21 days remaining in the session.

The state House rushed through $14.3 million in emergency spending to respond to the dam failure on Kaua'i and storm-related damage across the Islands.

Gov. Linda Lingle made the emergency request, which was approved by the House and sent to the state Senate, which is expected to give it fast approval.

The request has received bipartisan support as lawmakers look at the effect of the Kaloko dam break as well as flooding in Windward O'ahu after heavy rains.

The money will pay to survey private and public dams and reservoirs statewide, review legal and safety issues related to dams and reservoirs, and cover expenses for responding to storms and flooding.

Lawmakers also prepared bills for second lateral on Friday, the procedural deadline for bills that have crossed between chambers to reach the final committee where they have been assigned.

ISSUE WATCH

Alternative energy: One of the main supporters of a wholesale price cap on gasoline, state Sen. Ron Menor, D-17th (Mililani, Waipi'o), surprised many when he proposed a suspension of the cap in an effort to compromise with the House, which has called for its eventual repeal. Menor wants the state Public Utilities Commission to continue to calculate the cap each week, but it would only be enforced if prices remain above the cap for two consecutive weeks. The Senate and House will now likely decide what to do with the cap in conference committee.

Education: Lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow school complexes to voluntarily adopt a core curriculum for schools. The state Department of Education and the Hawai'i State Teachers Association oppose the bill because the department is developing a standards-based curriculum for each grade level.

Affordable housing: Lawmakers are pushing forward with plans to substantially increase the amount of money in the state's Rental Housing Trust Fund in the hopes that it will promote more affordable units over the next few years.

Tax relief: The Kaloko dam failure and other storm-related flooding may help bolster the argument from some lawmakers that the state should focus on infrastructure improvements rather than tax relief with the state's budget surplus.

OVERHEARD

"The gas cap has always been used as a political weapon and now that it has blown up in the Democrats' faces, they do a 180-degree turn."

— State Senate Minority Leader Fred Hemmings, R-24th (Kailua, Waimanalo, Hawai'i Kai).

COMING UP

* The Legislature is off tomorrow in observance of Kuhio Day.

* The Senate Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on the state budget at 9 a.m. Thursday in Room 211.

Have a tip for the Capitol bureau? Call 525-8070 or send an e-mail to ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Compiled by Derrick DePledge and Treena Shapiro.