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Editorials
Tuesday, January 23, 2001State of the State
talk emphasizes educationThe issue: Governor Cayetano proposed new programs in education and development of Kakaako in his State of the State address.
IN his seventh State of the State speech, Governor Cayetano switched his emphasis from civil service reform, the theme of last year's address, to education initiatives and development of Kakaako. He ignored the storm brewing over his rejection of the contract demands of the public employee unions.
The governor's proposals for development of state-owned land in Kakaako makai of Ala Moana have already been publicized. They involve a major aquarium, with both public and private funding, a science educational center, to be established in cooperation with the Bishop Museum, an expanded University of Hawaii Medical School and associated research facilities for private companies.
Cayetano is correct in regarding the Kakaako site as the best available to the state in urban Honolulu for making improvements that would benefit tourism, education and research.
But there is some question whether the Legislature will go along, particularly with the aquarium. There is also sentiment among legislative leaders to fund the HGEA arbitration award that Cayetano opposes.
The governor has repeatedly insisted that education is his highest priority, but he has antagonized many in the educational community with his budget cuts for higher education and his resistance to union demands. This year he proposes a college scholarship program for all Hawaii high school graduates with a B average, to be financed from interest payments on a special emergency fund.
He also proposes a "pre-plus" program of preschool education for all needy 3- and 4-year olds. The name is a variation on the A+ after-school program he spearheaded as lieutenant governor. Like A+, this is another good idea, but there is much to be done to bolster existing programs.
Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono has been designated to head up the program, which could increase her public visibility and boost her probable bid for the governorship in 2002, as the A+ program helped the current governor.
Cayetano also proposed increased spending on school construction and renovation, which is much needed. However, there was not a single conciliatory word in the speech regarding the demands of the teachers union and the UH faculty union.
Civil service and collective bargaining reform got a brief mention, with the governor restating his conviction that changes are needed. He got little of what he asked for in the last legislative session, and seemed to suggest that he will not make a major effort this time.
That would be unfortunate, because he is right in maintaining that the state government must become more efficient. The fight must go on.
Philippine president
should pursue reforms
FOR the second time in 15 years, a Philippine president who abused his powers has been forced out of office -- in both cases, fortunately, without bloodshed.
Joseph Estrada, the former actor who was elected in 1998, was no dictator like Ferdinand Marcos. But he shamelessly used the presidency to enrich himself through bribery and extortion. His downfall began when a provincial governor who had been one of his cronies revealed that Estrada had taken millions of dollars in bribes from an illegal gambling ring.
After months of suspense while the Congress first impeached Estrada and then tried him, the climax came with startling speed. Estrada supporters in the Senate blocked a request by the prosecutors to disclose bank records that would supposedly incriminate the president.
The vote ignited a firestorm of protest that left Estrada without the support of any major element of society -- the armed forces, the business community, the Catholic Church, the labor unions -- even members of his own cabinet.
In an extraordinary move, the Supreme Court declared the presidency vacant, reasoning that Estrada had lost the ability to govern. Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was sworn in as the Philippines 14th president.
Estrada is now maneuvering to reclaim the presidency, arguing that he was only temporarily incapacitated and turned over the government to Macapagal-Arroyo in an acting capacity. But any attempt to challenge her legitimacy seems doomed. Instead, Estrada may face criminal prosecution on the basis of the evidence presented in his trial before the Senate.
Prosecuting him could have a healthy effect. No major figure in the Marcos regime has ever been imprisoned, which has strengthened cynicism about politics.
The daughter of a former president, Macapagal-Arroyo is far better qualified for the presidency than was Corazon Aquino, who succeeded Marcos. Educated as an economist but already a veteran politician, she understands the need to reform the political system and fight corruption in order to attract investment and strengthen the economy. Under Philippine law, the president and vice president are elected separately. Macapagal-Arroyo was not on Estrada's ticket and owes nothing to him.
Now she has an opportunity to get the Philippines back on the path of reform after the debacle of the Estrada administration.
Published by Liberty Newspapers Limited PartnershipRupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
Frank Bridgewater, Acting Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor
