There is only one Republican in the 25-member state Senate and only eight Republicans in the 51-member state House of Representatives.

Numbers matter: In the 2011 session, no bill introduced by any of those nine lawmakers passed the Hawaii Legislature.

When Civil Beat reported that story last May, House Minority Leader Gene Ward fired back, saying influence at the Legislature can be measured in many ways, not just in getting bills passed.

The minority party still believes it has a big say in what happens at the Capitol.

“Some of the best bills that pass are with our fingerprints, and some of the best ideas are ours,” Ward said at a caucus press conference two days after session opened Jan. 18.

Ward pointed to the example of his GOP colleague, Rep. Barbara Marumoto, who was one of the first lawmakers of either party to condemn Gov. Neil Abercrombie‘s proposal to tax pension income. The measure died.

“It’s not whose name is on the bill,” said Rep. George Fontaine, a minority whip. “If it’s a good idea, it’s not about caring who gets credit for it.”

In the other chamber, meantime, Sen. Sam Slom holds a similar view.

“Democrats want me because they like to say they have bipartisan support,” he said, pointing out that his voting record demonstrates that he votes in favor of 90 percent of all bills that pass.

Slom’s signature is on a lot of those bills as a co-sponsor.

Slom observes, wryly, however, “There are some people who do not believe in a two-party system.”

GET, Jones Act, Ethics, Hawaiian Electric

Slom has introduced 12 bills this session — four less than last session, though those bills carry over. They include ones that would have the Legislature met every odd year instead of annually, and another that would deregulate Hawaii’s electric utilities.

Slom also wants to request that the U.S. Congress exempt Hawaii and Alaska from the Jones Act — the 1920 cabotage law that requires all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried in U.S.-flag ships — made in the United States, owned by Americans and crewed by them.

Republicans (and a few Democrats, such as Ed Case), believe the Jones Act is a chief reason prices are so expensive in the 49th and 50th states.

Small-business advocate that he is, Slom also wants to repeal last year’s Act 105, which temporarily suspended the Hawaii General Excise and Use Tax in a number of instances. Language in Slom’s bill posits that Act 105 has led to “higher airline costs, added shipping surcharges, new costs for sub contractors and sub lessees, and burdens upon non-profit entities.”

Slom also wants lawmakers to move the disclosure deadline for lawmakers’ financial interests from May 31 to Jan. 15 — in other words, before the Legislature begins its session, not after. And, he’d like to see “a truth in accounting process for preparation and reporting of the State budget” — in other words, open up the books.

Cybercrime, Energy, Jobs, Noisy Mopeds

The House minority caucus has introduced 22 bills this year, six more than in 2011.

They include requiring the state auditor to review legislative special funds, calling for a constitutional amendment question regarding the disclosure of judicial and gubernatorial nominees and establishing a clean energy bond loan program for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements on properties.

They also include a penalty for operating a noisy moped. House Bill 2216 would do the following:

Prohibits motor vehicle mufflers from emitting a noise level above ninety-five decibels. Authorizes law enforcement officers to issue traffic citations for violations that are correctable. Establishes a penalty for failure to provide proof of correction.

All eight caucus members have signed on to two bills regarding computer fraud as well as to another bill that “requires electronic communication service providers to retain subscriber/user records and internet destination history information for at least 2 years.”

Those bills are part of the more than 30 cybercrime pending before the Ledge.

Will Republican bills fare any better this session compared with last? The answer won’t be clear until session ends.

However, as of Friday, only one solely GOP-sponsored measure had been scheduled a hearing — House Bill 2217, which requires state agencies to fill job positions within 10 years after a vacancy, and requires the automatic removal of funds for positions vacant longer than that period.

Of course, Democrats control the hearing schedule of all bills.

Until those bills are heard, though, expect Hawaii Republicans to speak their mind on Democratic proposals.

Rep. Cynthia Thielen points out that most of the public doesn’t see or hear what happens when bills are aired in committee.

“We really are in there to defeat bad ideas and promote good ideas,” said Rep. Cynthia Thielen, a veteran Republican.