A recent Honolulu Advertiser editorial got it right in calling the 2007 legislative session "nothing to crow about."

I have had the opportunity to closely watch the state Legislature for the past four years. As Governor Lingle's senior policy adviser, one of my jobs is to help promote the governor's legislative package of improvements, as well as raise concerns about bad legislation that comes up each year.

The Democrat-controlled House and Senate fell far short of what the public deserved. For example, the session opened with speeches about the importance of affordable housing. Yet when given the chance to approve almost $275 million in new funds to build and improve public housing, this Legislature gave us only $112 million.

Everyone knows that our highway fund was raided in the 1990s, and we need to replenish that fund so our state roadways can be repaired and expanded. But the House and Senate failed to approve $78 million in funds to rebuild and repair some of our worst roads.

Legislative leaders talk about improving the quality of life for Hawai'i's citizens, but when they had a chance to return almost $350 million to the pockets of working families, they chose to approve just $82 million, a portion of which won't reach taxpayers until 2009. Governor Lingle recommended immediate relief from food taxes and a refund check this year because she realizes that working families and seniors need tax relief now.

Instead of helping with housing, highways, and tax refunds, the state Senate chose to spend countless hours engaging in the character assassination of gubernatorial appointees. The House leadership attempted to defend this unprofessional behavior by reminding us that the Democrats have performed the same shameful actions against former governors. This does not justify actions to deny Cabinet positions or judgeships to community-supported persons qualified and willing to serve the public.

As The Advertiser correctly pointed out, we also saw very little progress in laying the groundwork for sensible agricultural land reform, hospital and medical malpractice tort reform, and improving the management of state and county agencies.

I must commend the members of the House and Senate minority who daily asked tough questions, fought to defend the governor's nominees, and spoke out against heavy-handed majority tactics to overturn the governor's vetoes late at night when the public wasn't watching. The minority members recognize that democracy is an ongoing engagement with the people, not a once-in-a-while flexing of political muscles because you have a lopsided number of Democrats in the House and Senate.

It is my hope that we will see more constructive behavior in the 2008 legislative session. The Lingle-Aiona administration remains ready to work with members of both parties who are willing to engage in an honest discussion of public policy issues. This is the way to advance the public's business — before another legislative session wastes precious time.

Linda L. Smith is the senior policy adviser for the Office of the Governor. She wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.