Senate Majority Caucus

Sens. Inouye, Hooser, Tsutsui and Baker listened to testimony during a Ways and Means Committee hearing last month.

The Senate has released its version of the state budget for fiscal year 2009. The proposal, contained in House Bill 2500, passed a vote on the Senate floor 22-2 Tuesday morning.

The Ways and Means committee handles all of the financial measures that pass through the Senate and has been working for months to prepare the 353-page proposal. According to committee chair Rosalyn Baker, the Senate’s version of the budget takes a prudent approach and reduces the general fund appropriations requested by Gov. Linda Lingle in December by $32.4 million.

Hawai`i’s economy has suffered from the effects of inflation and high oil prices over the past year, reflected most recently by the closures of ATA and Aloha Airlines.

Baker noted in a floor speech Tuesday that the state also has nearly half-a-billion dollars less in general fund revenues this year than it had last year.

“This budget does not create false impressions and should not give rise to false expectations,” Baker said, adding that her committee had crafted a version that sustains investments in education, transportation and health infrastructure, which she said are vitally important to regaining fiscal growth.

Senators and represenatives will meet over the next few weeks in a conference committee to finalize a budget proposal that they will submit back to the governor before the end of session on May 1.

Demonstrators gathered at the Capitol Friday to rally for Aloha Airlines. Many stood along Beretania Street holding signs that asked passing cars to honk in support.

The carrier, which has serviced Hawai`i for over 60 years, declared bankruptcy on March 20. Jonathan Aoki (left) and Claire Sugawa were among the children participating in the rally. Aoki’s mother, Carolyn, is an Aloha employee.

Officials delivered speeches at the rally pledging their best efforts to help the airline stay in business. Sen. Rosalyn Baker, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, told the crowd that she flies Aloha to and from her district on Maui every week. Though Aloha announced it will halt all of its passenger operations effective today, the Senate is still considering two bills that would help the carrier. HB2860 exempts airlines from paying taxes on fuel sold from a foreign-trade zone for interisland air transportation. The bill passed a vote by the entire Senate this morning and legislators from the House and Senate will now meet in a conference committee to smooth out its details. HB509 would provide state loan guarantees for Hawai`i’s air carriers, and the Ways and Means Committee has scheduled decision making on HB509 for tomorrow.

Sen. Clarence Nishihara and Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland spoke with the rally’s organizer, pilot Randall Cummings, after the event Friday. “Hang in there,” Nishihara told the crowd in his speech. “…hopefully for another 60 years.”

Chipper Wichman of the National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kaua`i asked the Legislature for Grant-In-Aid help during Wednesday’s hearing.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee and House Committee on Finance held a joint informational briefing for Neighbor Island Grant-In-Aid (GIA) applicants Wednesday morning. Representatives from 57 neighbor island organizations were invited to attend, and each organization was given three minutes to testify. 

“Parents across-the-board continually seek safe places for their children, especially during those after school hours when they are working. We find ourselves competing for the hearts and minds of our children. But it is a fight we cannot afford to lose. A vibrant YMCA on Maui is a powerful and positive magnet to support, mentor and befriend our children,” Maui resident Sandy Canha said on behalf of the Maui Family YMCA. (more…)

 
Because of the first decking deadline Friday, the Senate Ways and Means Committee is hearing a larger number of bills than normal this week. This morning’s agenda contained 59 bills. Pictured from left to right are Sens. Tokuda, English, Hooser, committee Vice Chair Tsutsui, committee Chair Baker, and Sens. Kim, Fukunaga and Menor.

By Hawaii State Senator Rosalyn Baker 

In his commentary dated August 2, 2007 (”Public finance: Legislature afflicted by a serious lack of understanding”), Lowell Kalapa acknowledges that, “no doubt,” pedestrian safety measures called for in Senate Bill 1191, including recalibrating stop lights to allow more time for pedestrians to cross the streets and raising awareness about safety measures, are meritorious. Unfortunately, the rest of his commentary contains a number of glaring factual errors and omissions.

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  The Senate Committee on Ways and Means approved landmark legislation on April 3rd that would provide health insurance to all uninsured children in Hawaii. A recent report by the Hawaii Uninsured Project estimates that there were 16,685 uninsured children living in Hawaii in 2005. The bill, HB 3116, creates a three-year pilot program and splits the program’s cost between the Department of Human Services and a private agency.

Click here for the full article from the 04-04-06 Honolulu Star Bulletin.