Cayetano urges
legislators to look
at state’s larger
economic picture

The governor warns that we may
soon see effects of the nation's
economic downturn

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By Pat Omandam
Star-Bulletin

Gov. Ben Cayetano says state lawmakers need to be cognizant of the impact their counties' struggling economies will have on the state economy.

The governor said yesterday people are now beginning to tighten up on spending nationwide in the wake of stock market losses, corporate layoffs and the demise of start-up Internet companies. That lag effect could soon hit Hawaii, he said.

For the state, that impact means West and East Coast tourism traffic - which has been boosting tourism numbers at a time when Japanese tourism is down - may begin to wane.

"And I think the legislators downstairs need to understand and take this into account as well," Cayetano said.

"Right now, they're consumed about finding money for pay raises without really, in my view, any thought about the future down the road."

In other action this and next week before the State Legislature:

Chamber games

>> The state House and Senate on Wednesday renew what was an annual basketball game between the two chambers at 7:30 p.m. at Klum Gym. Some of the senators who signed up for the game include the Bob "The Tower" Hogue, Avery "The Enforcer" Chumbley, Sam "The Intimidator" Slom and Jonathan "His Airness" Chun.

House members were still rounding up a team as of yesterday. The annual basketball game was suspended a few years ago after state Rep. Eric Hamakawa (D-Hilo) suffered a broken leg while other legislators suffered minor injuries.

Rainbow Stadium

>> The House Higher Education Committee on Wednesday will decide on a resolution asking the University of Hawaii to rename the Rainbow Baseball Stadium to the Les Murakami Baseball Stadium.

Native park

>> The House Water and Land Use Committee on Friday will hear a resolution asking the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to negotiate with Kamehameha Schools, Bishop Museum and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to lease Kalihi Valley District Park for a native Hawaiian education center.

Professor pay

>> State House Republicans this week said proposed raises for state university professors and instructors are reasonable. They also said the way the state has negotiated with the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly was unacceptable.

House Minority Leader Galen Fox (R-Waikiki) said the university's budget has consistently been reduced each year at a time when state leaders have called for the need to attract new business, stir economic development and provide quality education.

Fox said another way to improve UH is to change how the appointed Board of Regents is selected so that regents are chosen based on their qualifications and commitments, not on their politics.

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