CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Legislators and the public listened yesterday in the state House as Gov. Linda Lingle gave her State of the State address.

Lingle speech lauded

Most of her proposals find
favor, but her school initiative
has union leaders worried

Reaction in the courtyard
Drug plan praised on Maui
Home rule response mixed
Trip called unnecessary

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By Richard Borreca
rborreca@starbulletin.com

Unions would have less power, neighbor islanders would have more clout and taxpayers would have a bit of a break under proposals offered by Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday.

Major proposals >> Increase the standard tax deduction for low-income residents. >> Approve a tax credit for construction at Ko Olina. >> Create a program to allow poor people leaving hospitals to get free prescription drugs. >> Establish a 30 percent tax credit for long-term care insurance purchase. >> Allow counties to set up a civil service system. >> Transfer traffic-fine revenues to counties. >> Set mandatory prison sentences for public corruption convictions. >> Create omnibus procurement legislation that will allow electronic bidding. Full text of speech

Her first State of the State speech received generally high marks from lawmakers at the state Capitol.

Senate President Robert Bunda, a veteran Democrat whom Lingle singled out for praise because of his mandatory drug-testing proposal for public school students, returned the favor, calling Lingle's speech "excellent."

House Speaker Calvin Say also had praise, describing Lingle's 52-minute address as "one of the better speeches I heard throughout my career in public office."

But fellow Democratic House members raised concerns about Lingle's proposals to take high school principals out of a public-workers union and allow state charter schools to decide whether they would have any union representation.

"The UPW would not have a lock on any jobs, nor would the HGEA or the HSTA," Lingle said.

Say (D, St. Louis Heights-Wilhelmina Rise) and Rep. Marcus Oshiro (D, Wahiawa), House Labor Committee chairman, said the school-principal issue had been discussed and rejected in previous years. And Rep. Roy Takumi, House Education Committee chairman, said it should be up to union members to decide whether to get out of a union.

"We are not about to force anybody to be in a union or not be in a union," said Takumi (D, Pearl City-Pacific Palisades).

And Milton Shishido, principal of McKinley High School, who is also an Hawaii Government Employees Association board member, argued that unions were a necessity for principals to protect them in areas of "work assignments, work conditions and salary."

Randy Perreira, Hawaii Government Employees Association deputy executive director, said Lingle's speech was "a little troubling" because she urged doing away with some of the union's power.

"Her charter-school proposal is a right-to-work issue, and her tone is confrontational," he said.

But HGEA Executive Director Russell Okata said he thought many of Lingle's other proposals were supported by the rank and file.

"In my private conversations with her new aides, I have been encouraged," he said. "I think she will consider the worker's viewpoint, and if she does that, the administration has a good chance to succeed."

Speaking about Bunda's drug-testing proposal, Lingle urged lawmakers to deal with the issue and not be put off by the many questions. Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona was tapped to put together the program.

"It is voluntary," Aiona said. "If you want to opt out of it, you have the option as a parent. What we need to do is put the burden back on the parents. This is preventive, a tool."

No details had been worked out, and Aiona and Lingle were unclear who would pay for the tests or handle counseling for students who tested positive.

There were also more questions about Lingle's budget, with both Bunda and Say saying they didn't know if her budget and proposed tax cuts would balance.

"I am looking for the governor to outline specific ways (with) which she will balance the budget," Bunda said.

Say said, "It is a basic financial reality that before you can do any type of tax cuts, you've got to balance your budget."

Lingle responded after her speech, saying everything balances.

"Every single proposal you heard today is included. The budget will be balanced ... and there will be carryover savings," Lingle said.

While saying the Hawaii economy isn't strong enough to handle a big tax cut, such as the food and medical service tax cuts she promised during her campaign, the state should still lower other taxes.

She called for raising the standard deduction in the state income tax in steps until it matches the federal deduction in three years. That would mean 18,000 lowest-paid workers in Hawaii wouldn't have to pay state taxes.

The cost, Lingle said, would be about $20 million.

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BACK TO TOP
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Observers praise strength
in Gov. Lingle’s proposals

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Monica Shigenaga

34 years old
Hawaii Kai resident
Self-employed

"Finally, we have somebody who is speaking out to what we really need in our state. ... She wants government to be as one which I strongly agree upon. That's how it should be."

Concerning Gov. Linda Lingle's call for seven local school boards: "Each county has different ideas. ... We should have each county decide what is best. Each island is different. You can't compare Molokai to Honolulu."

Sean McLaughlin

45 years old
Kula resident
President of Akaku Maui Community Television

"It was a reflection of Linda's clarity and focus. As a neighbor-island person, her comments about home rule were particularly helpful. We frequently suffer from decisions that are made in Honolulu because there is no perspective of what that means in our communities on the neighbor islands.

"I think that's going to resonate with anyone who lives outside of downtown Honolulu."

Pedro "Pete" Beltran

63 years old
Waipahu resident
Retired military customs inspector

"Governor Lingle's State of the State address was fantastic. I believe that she will (implement) integrity in government and the education system."

Concerning nonbid contracts: "I think she is going to remove all the under-the-table treatment."

Taiaopo Tuimalea-Liifano

51 years old
Kalihi resident
Manager and consultant for Royal Guard Security

"I think she is very knowledgeable. I think the people of Hawaii, we need to change."

"I'm very happy with what she said about education and also about prescription drugs for older people. I think it's a must for older people."

Carol Philips

36 years old
North Shore resident
Ocean sports promoter for Body Board Productions and Republican state House candidate who ran unsuccessfully against Michael Magaoay to represent the 46th District (Schofield-Kahuku)

"I agreed with the tax reductions for the very poor. That's the kind of issue that needs to be addressed." Also, "Her stance in education is excellent. I really like how she wants to work in a bipartisan manner to do what's best for the people."

"People in communities need to feel empowered. I think that's so, so important -- decisions being made by people being directly affected."

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Asked by Rosemarie Bernardo at the state Capitol courtyard

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Office of the Governor