WASHINGTON — The Senate took the first step yesterday in a procedure to force a debate on the Native Hawaiian bill, stalled in the chamber since last summer.
Sen. Mitch McConnell Jr., R-Ky., the assistant majority leader, said the Senate would debate the motion to bring the bill to the floor — known as cloture — for three hours today and vote on the motion sometime tomorrow.
If supporters get the 60 votes necessary to overcome the procedural roadblock, the actual bill could then be brought up for debate and a possible vote.
The bill, originally introduced in 2000, would create a process for a Native Hawaiian government to be recognized by the federal government, similar to the political status given to Native American and Alaskan Native tribes.
Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, D-Hawai’i, chief sponsor of the bill, said he was confident there will be enough votes to pass the motion.