The Democratic Party of Hawai'i will likely not take a position on whether voters should support a state constitutional convention when the question appears on the ballot in November.

Democrats on the party's government operations committee voted late last night against a resolution endorsing a constitutional convention, meaning it will likely not come to the floor today at the party's state convention in Waikiki.

The party's government operations committee also voted against a proposal by state Rep. Della Au Belatti, D-25th (Tantalus, Makiki, McCully), to amend a separate resolution to spell out guidelines if voters do call for a constitutional convention. Belatti wanted the party to commit to the election of constitutional convention delegates in 2010 for a convention held by 2012, along with public financing for delegate elections and voters' guides.

Instead, the committee voted for a resolution favored by the Hawai'i Government Employees Association urging voter education this year about the risks of a constitutional convention.

The resolution notes that the state constitution protects equality, personal privacy, the environment, collective bargaining for labor unions, and Hawaiian cultural practices. It finds that a constitutional convention could open up the entire constitution for review, "which can imperil the people of Hawai'i by risk of loss of these rights."

The resolution urges party leaders to participate in public discussions about the ballot question and inform voters of alternatives for amending the constitution without a constitutional convention. The state Legislature can put constitutional questions on the ballot.

While the resolution urges voter education, its tone and substance is aligned with those in the labor, environmental and Native Hawaiian communities who have warned that a constitutional convention could threaten existing rights.

Belatti or other delegates could try to force the issue on the convention floor today through a minority report but party leaders and key elected officials have indicated they would likely defeat any resolution that endorses a constitutional convention.

Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona and other Republicans strongly endorsed a constitutional convention at the state GOP convention in Waikiki last weekend.

Last night, Democrats on the party's national and international affairs committee also reached compromise language on a resolution relating to the Israel-Palestine conflict, averting a broader disagreement that party leaders hoped to avoid.