Chris Lee (Hawaii politician)

Christopher Lee
Member of the Hawaii Senate from the 25th district
Incumbent
Assumed office November 3, 2020
Preceded by	Laura Thielen
Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 51st district
In office November 4, 2008 – November 3, 2020
Preceded by	Tommy Waters
Succeeded by	Lisa Marten
Personal details
Born	Christopher Kalani Cushman Lee (1981-01-28) January 28, 1981 (age 43) Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Oregon State University
Website	chrisleeforhawaii.com

Christopher Kalani Cushman Lee (born January 28, 1981) is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Hawaii Senate. He was the youngest member and only millennial serving in the Hawaii State Legislature when elected in November, 2008. He currently serves as Majority Whip and Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. He also serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations and commissions.

Lee is a supporter of addressing climate change and has authored laws making Hawaii the first state to mandate 100 percent renewable energy by 2045, the first state to commit to economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2045, and the first state requiring all public schools and universities to upgrade and become net-zero facilities by 2035.^[1][2] He is an advocate for equal rights, serving as spokesperson for the campaign to pass the Hawaii Marriage Equality Act in 2013, and authoring two laws protecting transgender individuals.^[3][4]

Lee also successfully helped lead the campaign to expand the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument into the world's largest marine protected area, and successfully led the opposition to defeat a $4.3 billion takeover of Hawaii's electric utilities by Florida-based Nextera Energy.^[5][6][7]

Personal life

Lee was born January 28, 1981, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He graduated in 1999 from Iolani School. Lee graduated with a BA in political science from Oregon State University.^[8] Before getting involved in politics he worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines, and at the Hawaii State Capitol.^[9]

At 30 years old, Lee suffered a stroke while speaking at a community meeting.^[10] He spent four days in the hospital and over the succeeding months made a full recovery. Lee credits the stroke with "changing everything" for him.

State legislature

Elections

In 2008, when Democratic State Representative Tommy Waters retired and left the District 51 seat in the House of Representatives open, Lee won the three-way September 20, 2008, Democratic primary against Ikaika Anderson and Shaun Christensen with 2,292 votes (54.0%),^[11] and won the November 4, 2008, general election with 5,885 votes (61.9%) against Republican nominee Quentin Kawananakoa.^[12]

In 2010, Lee was unopposed for the September 18, 2010, Democratic primary, winning with 4,102 votes,^[13] and won the November 2, 2010, general election with 5,626 votes (70.9%) against Republican nominee Maka Wolfgramm.^[14]

In 2012, Lee was unopposed for the August 11, 2012, Democratic primary, winning with 5,120 votes,^[15] and won the November 6, 2012, general election with 8,550 votes (77.8%) against Republican nominee Henry Vincent.^[16]

Political career

LGBTQ+ rights

Lee is a strong advocate in favor of LGBTQ+ rights.^[17] As a freshman legislator, he supported passing legislation legalizing civil unions in 2009 and 2011. In 2013 while serving in the State Legislature, Lee also served as spokesperson for the Hawaii United for Marriage campaign to legalize same-sex marriage in Hawaii. In the midst of the campaign leading up to a legislative special session to decide the issue, Lee received a death threat for his role frequently advocating for same-sex marriage in the media.^[18] At the close of a contentious special session in October 2013, the Hawaii legislature passed the Hawaii Marriage Equality Act of 2013. On November 12, Lee delivered remarks on behalf of the House of Representatives at a ceremony in which Governor Neil Abercrombie signed the bill into law, making Hawaii the 15th state to legalize same-sex marriage. "It is never the wrong time to do the right thing," Lee noted in his speech.^[19]

In 2015, Lee authored Act 226 allowing transgender individuals to change their birth certificates to reflect their gender identities as recommended by the American Medical Association.^[20] In 2016 he authored Act 135 barring health insurance companies from discriminating against transgender individuals by unfairly denying them medical coverage.^[21]

Money in politics and elections

In 2009, his first year in office as a state legislator, Lee successfully authored an amendment to House Bill 2003, which prohibited state contractors from making political contributions.^[22]

In 2013, Lee authored Act 112 which created a new law requiring super PACs to disclose their top donors in all elections advertising.^[23] Lee has also been a strong supporter of improving publicly funded elections to ensure all candidates equal voice, and reduce the influence of money in elections, and has supported calls to overturn the Citizens United decision.^[24]

Efforts to enact industrial pesticide regulation

In 2010, following reports of aerial pesticide spraying impacting the health of children and families in Hawaii, Lee introduced the first of a series of bills to address the business practices of large pesticide companies and their impacts on public health.^[25] This bill sought to protect small farmers from lawsuits routinely used by large pesticide companies to intimidate and threaten smaller farmers.^[26] The bill failed to pass.

As a member of the Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, Lee questioned states officials on the large quantities of unreported pesticides being sprayed around the state.^[27]

In 2015 Lee passed a law to help farmers end their dependence on pesticides sold by large pesticide companies by creating the first tax breaks of up to $50,000 per year for organic farmers.^[28]

In 2018 Lee helped negotiate a deal between lawmakers to overcome strong lobbying and opposition by pesticide companies to pass a law setting a new precedent by making Hawaii the first state to ban the toxic pesticide chlorpyrifos, requiring disclosure of pesticides being sprayed, and establishing 100 foot pesticide buffer zones around all public schools.^[29] The following year, California, Oregon, New York and Connecticut introduced similar legislation following the success of the ban in Hawaii.^[30]

This political battle over pesticide regulation in Hawaii was the subject of a 2019 documentary Poisoning Paradise, produced by Pierce Brosnan and directed by Keely Shaye Brosnan.^[31]

NextEra Energy and utilities reform

In 2014, Florida-based NextEra Energy launched a $4.3 billion bid to acquire Hawaiian Electric Industries, which includes 3 of Hawaii's major electric utilities serving over 90 percent of the state's households.^[32] After months of investigation in which it became clear NextEra Energy Inc. would pass an excessive $30 billion in costs to consumers, Lee became the first Legislator to publicly oppose the acquisition.^[33][34] Lee led the opposition amongst state legislators and county leaders, organizing support from over 40 other elected officials from both parties.^[35] Lee pushed legislation to stop the acquisition in the 2016 legislative session, and successfully included $1.2 million in the 2016 state budget to examine alternative utility ownership and business models.^[36] At the announcement of the acquisition in December 2015, public polls showed 32 percent public support for the acquisition.^[37] By February 2016, support had declined to just 16 percent.^[38] The Public Utilities Commission subsequently rejected the acquisition in July, 2016.^[39]

In 2017, Lee authored the Hawaii Ratepayer Protection Act, which required the Public Utilities Commission to "directly tie electric utility revenues to a utility's achievement on performance metrics" such as progress toward integration of renewable energy, customer satisfaction, rate affordability, data sharing with other stakeholders, and interconnection of customer distributed generation.^[40] The Hawaii Ratepayer Protection Act passed in 2018 as Senate Bill 2939 and was signed into law as Act 5.^[41]

Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument expansion

In late August, 2016, then-U.S. president Barack Obama signed an executive order expanding the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, making it the world's largest marine protected area. Lee, who had led grassroots efforts in support of the expansion, joined Obama at the announcement ceremony.^[42]

Renewable energy and climate change

Lee actively promotes renewable energy and addressing climate change. In 2014 he authored the Hawaii Climate Adaptation Initiative, which established the State of Hawaii's framework to address climate change.^[43]

When utilities were accused of blocking homeowners from installing their own rooftop solar panels,^[44][45] Lee convened oversight hearings and passed Act 109, directing the utility to allow customers to install more rooftop solar panels.^[46][47][48]

In 2015, Lee authored Act 97, which made Hawaii the first state to require all utilities to sell 100 percent renewable energy by 2045.^[49] Lee also authored laws in 2015 and 2016 directing all public schools and university campuses to become energy net-zero and generate their own renewable power by 2035,^[50][51] and another law creating a green special fund to help the university pay for these upgrades.^[52]

In 2018, Lee authored and passed Act 15, which made Hawaii the first state legally committing to a zero-emissions economy and statewide carbon neutrality by 2045.^[2][53] He also authored Act 17, which ensures all projects prepare for sea level rise by requiring all environmental impact statements to consider its implications.^[2]

Since 2015, Lee has worked with policymakers and organized local advocates in other states to help spread policies committing states and cities to 100 percent clean energy and carbon neutrality.^[54]

Other legislation

Lee has also passed legislation making Hawaii the first state to commit to ensuring basic financial security for all families and begin exploring a guaranteed income for all residents.^[5] He passed laws establishing the nation's first tax credits for organic farming.^[55]

In November 2017, Lee, along with Rep. Sean Quinlan, became the first elected officials in the United States to raise concerns about predatory online gaming practices involving loot boxes encouraging minors to gamble after the Star Wars Battlefront II monetization controversy.^[56]

References

1. "New law requires 100-percent renewable energy in Hawaii by 2045". KHON2. 2015-06-09. Retrieved 2017-11-24.
2. "Gov. David Ige signs 3 bills combating climate change into law". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 2018-06-04. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
3. "Hawaii bill bans discrimination against transgender patients".
4. "Hawaii is first state to ban sale of certain sunscreens". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
5. "Hawaii just became the first US state to pass a bill supporting basic income — here's the man behind it". Business Insider. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
6. "Over 40 Hawaii lawmakers call for study of public utility as alternative to NextEra deal". Utility Dive. Retrieved 2017-11-24.
7. "Creating Change". www.chrisleeforhawaii.com. Retrieved 2017-11-24.
8. "Chris Lee's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
9. "About Chris". www.chrisleeforhawaii.com. Retrieved 2017-11-23.
10. "State Rep. Chris Lee recovers from stroke, warns others of danger". Retrieved 2017-11-23.
11. "Primary Election 2008 - State of Hawaii - Statewide September 20, 2008" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 4. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
12. "General Election - State of Hawaii - Statewide November 4, 2008" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 2. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
13. "Primary Election 2010 - State of Hawaii - Statewide September 18, 2010" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 5. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
14. "General Election - State of Hawaii - Statewide November 2, 2010" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 3. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
15. "Primary Election 2012 - State of Hawaii - Statewide August 11, 2012" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 5. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
16. "Hawaii General 2012 - State of Hawaii - Statewide November 6, 2012" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 2. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
17. "Creating Change". www.chrisleeforhawaii.com. Retrieved 2017-11-26.
18. Lincoln, Mileka. "Local lawmaker receives death threat over same-sex marriage position". Retrieved 2017-11-26.
19. Lincoln, Mileka. "Hawaii becomes 15th state to legalize same-sex marriage". Retrieved 2017-11-26.
20. CATHY BUSSEWITZ. "Hawaii eases process to switch gender on birth certificates". sandiegouniontribune.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 2017-11-26.
21. "Hawaii bill bans discrimination against transgender patients". AP News. Retrieved 2017-11-26.
22. "Pay to Play Prohibition Amendment" (PDF).
23. "Super PACs must list top donors under bill". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 2013-04-14. Retrieved 2017-11-26.
24. "Hawaii lawmakers push forward campaign finance reforms - Ballotpedia". Retrieved 2017-11-26.
25. Pala, Christopher (2015-08-23). "Pesticides in paradise: Hawaii's spike in birth defects puts focus on GM crops". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
26. "HB 2227" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2010-03-07.
27. Chris Lee (2017-06-15), Chris Lee questioning the Department of Agriculture, retrieved 2019-06-02
28. Herreria, Carla (2016-05-13). "Hawaii Could Be The First State To Help Farms Go Organic". HuffPost. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
29. "Lawmakers Reach Agreement on Controlling Pesticide Use". Big Island Now | Lawmakers Reach Agreement on Controlling Pesticide Use. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
30. Ibarra, Ana B. (2019-04-25). "States Weigh Banning A Widely Used Pesticide Even Though EPA Won't". Kaiser Health News. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
31. "Poisoning Paradise | The Film". Retrieved 2019-06-02.
32. "Florida's NextEra Energy To Acquire Hawaiian Electric Industries In $4.3b Deal". Industry Leaders Magazine. 2014-12-04. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
33. Mendoza, Jim. "NextEra says HECO merger will ensure renewable energy demands are met". Retrieved 2018-07-20.
34. "If NextEra can't deliver what public wants, another option is a publicly owned utility". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 2015-07-26. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
35. Shimogawa, Duane (September 3, 2015). "Hawaii lawmakers explore public utility ownership as alternative to NexEra acquisition of HECO". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
36. Shimogawa, Duane (October 3, 2016). "Hawaii moving ahead with effort to look into electric utility ownership models". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
37. Mykleseth, Kathryn (January 17, 2016). "NextEra losing support for plan to purchase HEI" (PDF). Honolulu Star Advertiser.
38. "Civil Beat Poll: Majority Oppose NextEra-HEI Merger". Honolulu Civil Beat. 2016-02-03. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
39. Mangieri, Gina (2016-07-16). "Public Utilities Commission denies HECO-NextEra merger in 2-0 vote". KHON. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
40. "HB1283 HD1.DOC". www.capitol.hawaii.gov. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
41. "Hawaii Gov. Ige signs law mandating performance-based utility regulation". Utility Dive. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
42. Shimogawa, Duane (August 31, 2016). "Obama links Hawaii marine monument expansion to climate change efforts". Pacific Business News. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
43. "Gov. Abercrombie signs climate change adaptation bill". Retrieved 2017-11-25.
44. "Hawaiian Utility Company Moves to Stop Solar Energy". Earthjustice. 2010-02-24. Retrieved 2017-11-25.
45. "HECO accused of slowing solar interconnects to max out NextEra merger value". Utility Dive. Retrieved 2017-11-25.
46. Lincoln, Mileka. "Lawmakers call hearing to discuss HECO's solar policy changes". Retrieved 2017-11-25.
47. Lincoln, Mileka. "Lawmakers propose solar connection rules". Retrieved 2017-11-25.
48. "Hawaii State Legislature". www.capitol.hawaii.gov. Retrieved 2017-11-25.
49. "David Y. Ige | PRESS RELEASE: Governor Ige signs bill setting 100 percent renewable energy goal in power sector". governor.hawaii.gov. Retrieved 2017-11-25.
50. "Maui Now: Clean Energy Bill Becomes Law". Maui Now | Clean Energy Bill Becomes Law. Retrieved 2017-11-25.
51. Johnson, Shiwani (June 9, 2015). "University of Hawaii to be 'net zero' with respect to energy by 2035". www.bizjournals.com. Archived from the original on 2021-05-18. Retrieved 2017-11-25.
52. "Hawaii State Legislature". www.capitol.hawaii.gov. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
53. Gebers, Samie. "Hawaii sets ambitious goal: Carbon neutral by 2045". Retrieved 2018-07-20.
54. "Will Hawaii Lead The Renewables Revolution?". Honolulu Civil Beat. 2019-09-17. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
55. Herreria, Carla (2016-05-13). "Hawaii May Become The First State To Help Farms Go Organic". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
56. "A state politician in Hawaii says the new 'Star Wars' game encourages kids to gamble and he wants to ban sales to anyone under 21". Business Insider. Retrieved 2018-07-20.

External links

• Official page at the Hawaii State Legislature
• Campaign site
• Profile at Vote Smart