Hiroshi Kato

From dKosopedia

Category: Hawaii Democrats

Hiroshi Kato was a member of the Hawaii Democratic Party. He was a member in Hawaii State House of Representatives from 1959 to 1964 and 1967 to 1974. He was Chair of the Judiciary Committee from 1959 to 1964 and from 1966 to 1968.

In 1959 he was offered but turned down the Speaker position as a compromise candidate and accepted the position as Judiciary Committee Chair. He held that position frin 1959 to 1964 and 1967 to 1968. In 1969 to 1973, he was an unsuccessful challenger for the position of Speaker of the House. During those years he was Chair of the House Health and Welfare Committee.

In 1974, as Chair of the Health Committee, the Prepaid Health Care Act of 1974 was passed out of committee. That law required employers provide health care for their employees who worked for a minimum of 19.5 hours a week.

In 1974, Hiroshi Kato was appointed as Circuit Court Judge by Governor George Ariyoshi. That appointment was confirmed by the Hawaii State Senate. Kato held the judgeship until 1982.