State Senate Minority Leader Fred Hemmings has refused to call a caucus because two of the three other Republicans in the Senate want to remove him as their leader.

Hemmings, R-25th (Kailua, Waimanalo, Hawai'i Kai), said yesterday he wants to wait until all four Republicans can meet before holding a caucus to discuss the upcoming legislative session, which begins Jan. 16.

State Sen. Paul Whalen, R-3rd (Kohala, Kona, Ka'u), has not been available to meet.

State Sen. Sam Slom, R-8th (Kahala, Hawai'i Kai), and state Sen. Gordon Trimble, R-12th (Waikiki, Ala Moana, Downtown), are interested in removing Hemmings. They question whether Hemmings has been effective at candidate recruitment and advancing the party's message.

Democrats hold a 21-4 advantage in the Senate.

Without a caucus, Slom said, Senate Republicans have not settled on a package of bills for the session. Hemmings said the legislative package proposed last year, with themes such as tax relief and promoting charter schools, is still viable. Senate and House Republicans met yesterday afternoon at GOP headquarters to discuss issues that they will work on jointly this session.

"With only four of us, it is ridiculous to have this tempest in a teapot," Hemmings said.

Whalen, who has shown interest in a job with the Lingle administration, could not be reached for comment. He is facing a potentially difficult re-election campaign next year as state Rep. Josh Green, D-6th (N. Kona, Keauhou, Kailua-Kona), has been actively raising money and networking for his Senate run in Whalen's district.

At best, Slom said, the vote on whether Hemmings should continue would be split. Slom wants Trimble as leader.

"Right now, it's a vote of no confidence," he said of Hemmings.

Trimble said if Whalen intends to leave before or during session that Senate Republicans should have an interim leader until Whalen's replacement gets to vote. He favors Slom as interim leader.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.