Around 20 speakers addressed a joint gathering of the state Legislature’s money committees Monday night, and those who mentioned gambling or a proposal to use the $213 million Hawai’i Hurricane Relief Fund to balance the state budget said “no” to
Around 20 speakers addressed a joint gathering of the state Legislature’s money committees Monday night, and those who mentioned gambling or a proposal to use the $213 million Hawai’i Hurricane Relief Fund to balance the state budget said “no” to both ideas.
State Rep. Bertha Kawakami, a Hanapepe resident and vice chairwoman of the House Finance Committee, said the joint committees (along with the Senate Ways and Means Committee) have been hearing the same sentiments at public hearings around the state.
In the Wilcox Elementary School cafeteria in Lihu’e, committee members including Sen. Jonathan Chun and Rep. Ezra Kanoho, both of Kaua’i, and other legislators from across the state listened to nearly three hours of testimony. State Rep. Mina Morita, whose district includes Kaua’i and Maui, also attended.
The committees are seeking public input on how to balance the state budget against a projected $315 million shortfall in revenue over the next two fiscal years.
Among Gov. Ben Cayetano’s ideas are making cuts across the board to every state department, deferring state contributions to the Employees’ Retirement System, transferring the remaining $213 million from the hurricane relief fund to the state general fund, and authorizing $900 million in general obligation bonds for various capital improvement projects in an attempt to stimulate the economy.
Citizens speaking Monday (others submitted written testimony) included many who opposed raiding the hurricane fund, which was established to help residents who are victims of hurricanes, included Fred Wells, Glenn Mickens, Alfred Sarmento, Chuck Trembath, the Rev. Wesley Elmore, Elaine Dunbar, Chris Kealoha, and others.
“It is the hurricane relief fund, period,” said Elaine Dunbar. “No touchy. No touchy education, and no touchy money that belongs to Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians).”
Not one of the speakers expressed an interest in legalized gambling. Hawai’i is one of three states without any form of legalized gambling, and if Kawakami were a betting woman, she would lay odds that Hawai’i will remain one of those three states without legalized games of chance, she said.
Kaua’i County Mayor Maryanne Kusaka and Kawakami oppose legalized gambling, and Kawakami doubts proposals will gain majority approval in the state House during this year’s session.
“I think it would have a hard time passing,” she said.
Still, she agreed with proponents of a statewide referendum letting registered voters express their opinions on legalized gambling.
Fred Wells said he could live with gambling aboard cruise ships, but not on land, and asked if a lottery with proceeds going to the state Department of Education could be possible.
Glenn Mickens said that with ILWU (International Longshore and Warehouse Union) support, a proposed luxury resort with casino gambling is probably in O’ahu’s future. If that comes to pass, the state must make an “ironclad” agreement with casino operators that proceeds flowing to the state be used for education, he added.
“I can’t say it enough: No legalized gambling,” said Wesley Elmore, pastor of Lihu’e United Church.
Gambling attacks the poorest of the poor and falsely raises expectations, Elmore said.
“May you choose the hardest right and not the easiest wrong,” he advised legislators.
Wells proposed raising taxes on cigarettes and liquor, abolishing the Department of Education in favor of school districts run by each county, and slashing funds going to promote tourism.
He said round-trip airfare from San Francisco to New York City is going for $231, while the fare for a round-trip between San Francisco and Lihu’e on United Airlines goes for $835, with the first available seat not until March.
Bringing in manufacturers of solar products from the mainland or other parts of the world would provide local jobs for plumbers, roofers and construction workers, Wells noted.
Mickens and Alfred Sarmento said government mismanagement and waste are reasons for the projected deficit.
“I believe the problem can be solved,” said Mickens.
Taxes on food, medicine and rent should be eliminated, and local boards of education should be established for greater educational accountability, Sarmento said.
Chuck Trembath argued that eliminating interisland travel by state workers, and getting rid of middle management in state government, the state motor pool and “obscene” salaries of some state employees would go a long way toward fixing the deficit.
Tapping some of the $1 billion a year flowing out of the state from fuel purchases would help on two fronts: Increasing energy self-sufficiency, and keeping badly needed dollars in the state, Trembath continued.
“It’s a no-brainer: We’ve got to get away from oil,” he said. If solar panels were installed on roofs of all the schools, the savings could fund the DOE budget, he estimated.
Judy Frazier requested more money for childcare subsidies, as more quality child care equates to happier employees who are parents.
George Menor, a small-businessman, said his and other businesses need help from the state in order to survive.
Several speakers asked the state to move forward with plans to improve Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor between Waimea and Kekaha, a project that already has state and federal funding.
Ernie Lau, head of the county Department of Water, asked the state to let funds appropriated but not encumbered for county water projects be set aside for those projects, and not be allowed to lapse back into the state general fund.
Allowing appropriated but unencumbered funds to fall back into the state general fund is one proposal to shave some of the deficit.
Elmore said overcrowding in public schools (Wilcox Elementary has nearly 1,000 students in six grades) is a huge problem, and increased funding is needed for the DOE.
“It is a time bomb that is ticking and waiting to explode,” he said.
Betty Chandler said that in every marketplace but government, “downsizing” is the name of the game.
Ellen Ching, of ARC (Association for Retarded Citizens) of Kaua’i, advocated a high-quality public education for those with developmental disabilities.
Around 50 Kaua’i people attended the meeting, including many veterans who applauded when Ed Kawamura of the Kaua’i Veterans Council asked for more counselor positions and expanded services for the state that has, per capita, more war and military veterans than any other.
Still, with 114,000 veterans in the state, the ones in Kona must drive to Hilo on Big Island for counseling services, and there is only one counselor covering all of Maui County, Kawamura said.
Staff Writer Paul C. Curtis can be reached at mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).
