After being accused by Republican Gov. Linda Lingle of being "childish," leaders of the House's majority Democrats announced Monday their "willingness to compromise" in restoring funds they cut from her emergency request for $1 million to run her office. Dems open to compromise
on funding gov’s officeBy Bruce Dunford
Associated Press
The compromise would provide state funds to furnish her new house, among other things.
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"There has never been any question of our willingness to provide the Governor's Office with funding levels adequate for its operation," said House Speaker Calvin Say.
On March 6, the House approved a bill providing only $508,000, about half the amount Lingle requested to run her office from January through June 30, the end of the fiscal year.
House Finance Chairman Dwight Takamine told his colleagues that in a tough economy and with public education taking multimillion-dollar cuts, the reduction was appropriate.
The money was needed because the state budget approved by lawmakers last May didn't include funding for the second half of the fiscal year, although then-Gov. Ben Cayetano left enough money behind to carry Lingle's office through March.
Meanwhile, the Senate Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations Committee on Monday amended the House bill to provide Lingle $838,136 to run her office through June 30.
Senate President Robert Bunda said the Senate's proposal was based on an agreement from Say to restore the funding to an amount close to Lingle's request so the measure can be expedited for a vote next week.
Lingle said Monday she can make do with that amount.
"I think we've reached a pretty good conclusion at this point and reinforced my feeling that the Legislature is a process," she said.
"It makes it clear that it's important not to take very hard, fast positions and allow people to sort of absorb your ideas, let me absorb your ideas ... always trying to move toward your ultimate goal," Lingle said.
After the House's March 6 action, Lingle said the Democrats, instead of playing games with her budget request, should focus on the serious issues of homeland security and education.
"It is childish, and the Legislature needs to get focused," she said at the time. "I am being treated differently than any other governor in the history of Hawaii has been treated. It is not fair, and it is something that the people of Hawaii would never support."
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