Dems battle
over budget

Approved bills would force
the governor to hold hearings
to justify funding restrictions

A top Democrat says Lingle's
delays led to canceling programs
for "ice" treatment

The war over the state's purse strings has been declared as majority Democratic legislators try to wrest funding from Gov. Linda Lingle's control.

Star-Bulletin Legislature Database Star-Bulletin Legislature Guide (PDF, 1.9 MB) State Legislature: Bills & Hawaii Revised Statutes

Democrats approved bills yesterday to force Lingle to hold public hearings to explain why she is restricting funds and formally justify how she uses federal money.

Sen. Brian Taniguchi, Senate Ways and Means Committee chairman, complained Lingle has dawdled in releasing state money to treat drug addicts and said she had "left the public and the providers in the dark."

"The restrictions caused providers to delay or cancel services crucial to addressing the problems of ice (crystal methamphetamine)," Taniguchi said in a speech on the Senate floor.

Linda Smith, Lingle's senior policy adviser, said Democrats were spending "an inordinate amount of time trying to curtail her (Lingle's) powers."

Taniguchi argued that the bills would not limit Lingle's powers to withhold money, just make her explain her actions.

"Asking the executive to explain the restriction of funds is a step in the right direction. ... This measure is about explaining it to the public," said Taniguchi (D, Manoa-Moiliili).

Last year, Lingle was criticized for withholding money earmarked by the Legislature for the anti-drug campaign and also money given to the Department of Education.

The Democrats asserted that the governor was subverting the intent of the Legislature, but Lingle said she wanted to make sure the funding was justified and that there was enough money.

Lingle eventually released nearly all the funds, but drug treatment advocates and the Board of Education said the delays hurt planning for existing programs.

Another bill would require Lingle to provide notice to the Legislature before transferring any jailed juveniles from the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility to mainland facilities.

Lingle was criticized by youth advocates for transferring a dozen girls from the facility to Colorado for six months, while construction work was done on the overcrowded prison.

Lingle last month testified before the Legislature defending the move.

"I think that the record would show that the Office of Youth Services and the current management at (Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility) is in the very best position to make that kind of a decision," Lingle told lawmakers.

Another bill would require the administration to use actual state revenues instead of estimates or projections to justify restrictions on spending.

Despite the tension between Republican Lingle and legislative Democrats, Smith said the governor's bills are doing well in the Legislature.

According to Smith's tally, 78 percent of the 208 bills Lingle submitted are still alive.

"And over 90 bills are in exactly the same form as what the administration proposed," Smith said. "It is still very early."