While recent financial projections indicate a slowing down of the economic decline that has hammered our state and the nation over the past 24 months, there is no doubt that the coming 2010 legislative session will be exceptionally challenging. Absent
While recent financial projections indicate a slowing down of the economic decline that has hammered our state and the nation over the past 24 months, there is no doubt that the coming 2010 legislative session will be exceptionally challenging.
Absent strong, thoughtful and forward thinking leadership, there is a very real possibility that the session will devolve into a fractured and frantic tug of war between various special interests, each competing for the limited available resources. It will be education versus gambling versus mental health versus economic development versus the homeless versus environmental protection versus rail transit versus tax increases versus public workers versus county TAT funds versus — you get the picture and it is not a pretty one.
The challenge of balancing the budget will have proponents coming at the issue from all sides. Some will argue to “starve the beast” and advocate for more across the board cuts, increased layoffs, furloughs and reductions in public services. Others will push for tax increases to increase revenues, stanch the bleeding and provide much needed support for safety net services, education and other vital services provided by government. Most will be looking at the picture through the narrow lens of their own particular special interest or kuleana they are responsible for protecting.
This is the fundamental challenge facing the state Legislature in 2010: How do we set priorities?
Is it the chicken or the egg?
Faced with dramatically declining tax revenues and forced by budget circumstances to make the tough decisions, it will and always has come down to setting priorities. Do we focus on the problems and challenges of now, or do we invest in our future? Or do we try to do it all and spread our resources out — a little here and a little there?
I have come to the conclusion that it is all about the egg. We must take care of tomorrow, today.
In setting our priorities we must resist the urge to be all things to all people. Yes, we have many areas charged with our care and protection and yes, we cannot ignore the many competing and vital interests. But as leaders, we must have the courage to say that some areas of our government, some areas of responsibility we are charged with are more important than others.
A strong and diverse economy will provide the resources to achieve all of our goals. The sustainable pathway forward starts with educational excellence and will lead to success in all other areas.
An intense and unrelenting focus on creating and maintaining a culture of educational excellence in Hawaii should be our States number one priority. Focusing first on the very young and then extending our efforts through to the University, leadership at all levels must be supported, re-energized and given the tools necessary to do their jobs. If we can accomplish this one thing — then many if not most of our State’s other challenges will begin to be surmountable.
Research clearly shows that when educational levels rise, incomes also increase and there is a natural and related reduction in poverty, crime and health-related costs. Knowledge-based and high tech businesses seek out communities that have strong educational foundations and the high quality of life associated with positive natural environments.
Supporting education must be our first priority. We must keep our eye on the prize of achieving educational excellence because from that all else flows.
• Sen. Gary Hooser, a Democrat, represents Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau in the state Legislature.
