As the legislature approaches the unofficial halfway point of “1st Crossover,” they’re some good stuff moving. Sadly though, there’s even more good stuff that has died unceremoniously in committees.

This is the way of the legislature and there’s absolutely reason for frustration. Even anger. Despite my fairly unvarnished and realistic view of the legislature, the timidity of the Democratic supermajority, and even the timidity of allies, I don’t go stomping around pointing fingers and decrying the process, whether I like it or not.

Friends and allies may disagree with my somewhat pragmatic view of Hawaii’s Legislature and its processes, but it works for me. It allows me to more quickly move on from defeats (which are numerous and often).

I get the anger among progressives when good bills die without a vote, but I also recognize that not only is that part of the process. What’s more, nearly every progressive ally and organization I know has, at one time or another, asked for a bad bill to be “held” or deferred.

But what really rankles me is when progressives cry fowl when that happens to “good” bills they like and applaud when “bad” bills suffer an identical fate.