Senate may revamp
HSTA health fund

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Star-Bulletin staff

The state Senate is moving to change how public school teachers set up their health fund, a move that critics including Gov. Ben Cayetano say runs counter to health fund reforms approved last year.

Supporters of the Hawaii State Teachers Association yesterday forced the bill onto the Senate floor for a vote.

Proponents, led by Sens. Les Ihara (D, Kaimuki-Waikiki) and Avery Chumbley (D, East Maui-North Kauai), won a preliminary approval on the measure that would allow teachers to continue to operate their own health insurance fund. It was then sent to a committee for an informational meeting.

The move was criticized by Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, Senate vice president.

"We took very bold steps to create a system last year that was fair and equitable to all, and now we're going to undo it without even giving it the opportunity to see whether or not they can get the same benefits," Hanabusa (D, Waianae) said.

"This is not a position against teachers or against any other union member. We have an obligation to treat all employees alike, and that is what we're doing," she said.

With this being an election year, Sen. Sam Slom (R, Kalama Valley-Aina Haina) said some supporting the HSTA may be afraid that teachers will say, "You might not get an endorsement from me."

But others saw it as a benefit.

"The proposed floor amendment is primarily about three things: security, flexibility and cost savings ... cost savings for public employers, public employees and, most importantly, for all the taxpayers in the state," Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland (D, Palama-Alewa Heights) said.

The House is expected to consider the bill today, but even supporters such as Rep. Noboru Takamine (D, Pearl City) said he was not sure the bill had enough votes for passage.

Cayetano already has said he would veto the measure.

"And it would be a shame if only one year later, there are enough people down there who are intimidated into repealing what is in my view a very, very good law," he said.

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