United Public Workers leader Gary Rodrigues said that he will target the state lawmakers who voted to pass bills to privatize government jobs and change employee health benefits. Rodrigues blasted legislators, especially Democrats. "Those who make up the majority of the Legislature in the Democratic party are basically Republicans," Rodrigues said. "Their philosophy is: take care of someone else, not the workers." Both houses of the Legislature approved a bill to place 80,000 under a single health plan Tuesday. The Senate passed the measure by one vote. "I think all elected officials are concerned, but quite candidly, we knew that we would face the consequences," Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, D-Nanakuli-Waianae-Makaha, said. "We had enough faxes and threats that we would not get their support." The House and Senate also approved a bill giving the governor and county mayors authority to farm out state services to private contractors, overturning a 1997 state Supreme Court decision that barred privatization. "The problem with the new privatization is: there's no accountability," Rodrigues said. "It's going to be handed out like candy on the sidewalk for whoever can reach out the furthest and grab it. That's how it will happen." When asked if he plans to target the lawmakers who voted for the measures Rodrigues had this to say: "We intend to target them. We intend to make sure all of the people know what they are all about." The UPW leader was also reflective about his role in the Democratic party in Hawaii. "It's disappointing for someone who helped the Democratic party suceed in becoming the majority party and staying the majority party in Hawaii. But, now we see an end to that, because they're all basically Republicans." "Now it's a matter of exposing those how voted against us," he said.

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