It’s not as if AARP did not work hard enough to call attention to SB1374.

In addition to lobbying heavily for it all session long and submitting guest editorials to media, Craig Gima, the AARP’s communications director, issued no less than five media advisories in the days leading up to the April 26 deadline arguing for the bill’s merits but warning of its vulnerability. House leadership was blamed for “trying to kill the bill in secret,” as one advisory said.

Gima issued one more press release after SB1374 died, too, again pinning the blame on the Hawaiʻi State House.

“A similar Hawaiʻi Saves bill died last year when the House, at the 11th hour, pulled their conferees from meeting,” it says. “Senate Bill 1374 had widespread support among small businesses, workers and taxpayers.”

The bill certainly had a lot of support including from the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice and the Oʻahu County Democrats. But insurance and banking interests opposed SB1374.