Lawmakers inclined to raid funds
POSTED: Monday, February 22, 2010
Gambling, civil unions, banning fireworks and raiding the city's transit fund to balance the state budget all appear to be losing support at the Legislature.
But sentiment is building to balance the state budget by both taking the hotel room tax from the counties and raiding the hurricane relief fund, according to a survey by the Star-Bulletin.
Almost half of the 76 lawmakers responded to the survey that asked for their predictions on what the Legislature would do this session on 15 top issues under consideration. The survey was anonymous to encourage candor. While some said their answers were predictions, others responded with what they hope will happen.
The most controversial issue is likely to be raising the state's 4 percent general excise tax (4.5 percent on Oahu) to make up the state's budget shortfall, estimated to reach $1.3 billion by the end of fiscal 2011.
Lawmakers in the survey split, with 17 favoring the increase and 20 saying no.
“;Our government under its current organization has been cut as far as it can go. While more efficiency can be implemented, re-organization and system changes take time and money,”; said one legislator in the survey.
The issue getting the most support is a move to cut the state's unemployment tax, with 32 legislators either favoring a cut or expecting the plan to pass.
Last week the House unanimously passed a bill to reduce the pending increase in unemployment insurance taxes paid by employers.
“;The planned jump in UI tax is too big for our state's employers,”; said one legislator.
The Star-Bulletin asked all 76 state lawmakers to fill out a short survey on their predictions for how some high-profile legislative issues would fare this session. Thirty-seven responded. While some said their answers were a prediction of what they thought would happen, others said their responses were their own opinions. Some legislators left answers blank or were noncommittal. Some of the highlights: 
Put on the ballot a constitutional amendment to make the superintendent of education a Cabinet post appointed by the governor:
Raise the general excise tax:
Ban the sale of firecrackers:
Move Hawaii closer to permitting legalized gambling:
Take the hotel room tax from the counties to supplement the state budget:
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Legalizing gambling, an issue that has drawn a lot of attention, does not appear to have much support, with just 12 in the Legislature saying Hawaii would move closer to legalizing gambling this year. Twenty said there is not enough support or that they do not like the idea.
“;Gaming will not help with the present shortfall faced by the state,”; one said.
Hot-button issues that do not appear likely to move include a total ban on fireworks or broadening Hawaii's medical marijuana laws.
The survey should be considered an informal view of legislative intent because lawmakers did not respond to all questions, and several said they were “;leaning in favor”; of a bill instead of expressing full support or disapproval.
Another controversial issue, civil unions, also appears to be dead this year, with 24 legislators saying the bill will not pass and just 12 saying it still has a chance. The bill cleared the Senate in the Legislature's opening days but was bottled up in the House and now needs a two-thirds vote to move into position for a final vote.
Several lawmakers, however, said civil unions stand a better chance of passing next year, after the 2010 elections.
There is strong support for halting the controversial school furlough program, with 23 saying they want to restore school days. But another 13 said they do not think it will happen.
“;Hopefully, we'll be part of the solution, but resolving school furloughs is not simply for the Legislature to accomplish,”; said one lawmaker.
Garnering middling support was Gov. Linda Lingle's idea for budget stabilization that requires a portion of state surpluses be put into a rainy day fund before any of the surplus is returned to taxpayers. Seventeen lawmakers support the idea, while 16 do not like it or think it will not pass.
“;No chance—even though lawmakers do not like refunds,”; said one legislator.
The broad area of educational reform had a lot of support, with 25 legislators saying they think the Legislature will approve a constitutional amendment to make the schools superintendent a Cabinet post appointed by the governor. Several legislators said there is real support for making changes to the Board of Education, either making it appointed or scrapping it altogether.
Even with support, it was not clear from the comments whether educational reform is guaranteed.
“;Public employee unions are very strong,”; one lawmaker said.
