Senator David Y. Ige’s Floor Remarks on the Executive Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2012
On May, 3, 2012, Senate Committee on Ways and Means Chair David Y. Ige offered the following remarks in support of House Bill 2012, the Hawaii State Supplemental Budget:
Mister President, I rise to speak in favor of this measure, the executive supplemental appropriations act of 2012.
This measure is the product of the positive and collaborative efforts set forth by members of this Legislature, the executive branch of government, and numerous members of the public.
Colleagues, I thank all of you that have contributed and supported the Senate’s efforts to develop a responsible expenditure plan, especially my Vice Chair, the members of the Ways and Means Committee, and yourself, Mister President.
Additionally, I also appreciate House Finance Chair Oshiro and his tireless efforts to work with me to finalize the State budget. The Chairman has become fond of the saying in the heated crucible of negotiations, “iron sharpens iron.” Mister President, at this point, the Legislature must have two fairly sharp money Chairs at its disposal.
This session marks the first in years that we were not faced with addressing a deficit exceeding a billion dollars. Nonetheless, challenges remained. The budget submitted by the Governor was premised on general fund revenue growth projections that the Council on Revenues has since substantially reduced, and many worthy programs could not be funded at desired levels.
However, this budget does allow us to strengthen core government services that have been diminished over the years. The governor’s initial supplemental budget request included over $100 million to strengthen the safety net, support public education, and maintain essential services across the State. Colleagues, the measure before you is responsible and responsive to the Governor’s requests and initiatives.
The governor’s requested budget includes funding to significantly improve the infrastructure for information technology (IT) throughout state government, an area in which the Senate has led by example. This measure includes more than $25 million dollars that will be administered by the office of information management and technology (OIMT) for critical IT projects that will support increased efficiency in the transformation of state government.
The budget before you strengthens the safety net, and includes additional funds for child welfare, domestic violence shelters, Medicaid, and various shortfalls across the Department of Human Services. Additionally, $18.2 million provided for the temporary assistance for needy families program and another $3.6 million for information technology initiatives to modernize the Department of Human Services.
Education is a top priority of the Legislature. This measure underscores this by adding over $40 million to the Department of Education’s budget. The funds provided focus on key areas of investment in education, including more funding than requested by the Governor for the weighted student formula and student meals, and fully funding the Governor’s requested budget for the community school for adult program and student transportation.
Following significant evaluations of the Charter School system, this Legislature has a measure rewrite the charter school law. To ensure equal appropriations for the public schools as the charter schools, about $1 million dollars is provided through this measure and charter school legislation to develop and implement a transition plan and provide equal per pupil operating funding for charter school and regular education students.
Finally, one of the Governor’s key initiatives is the protection of priority watersheds. This measure recognizes the importance of protecting the State’s water resources and provides $5 million for this purpose.
The conference draft of this Supplemental Budget moves the State forward by protecting safety net services, strengthening funding for education, and making strategic investments that will advance our economy.
This budget is in line with that proposed by the Governor, and calls for an addition of just $1.4 million in general funds to the executive supplemental budget request, as adjusted for governor’s messages, for fiscal year 2013.
Colleagues, I commend each of your efforts that have helped bring us to this point and thank you for your support of this measure and the important issues it represents.
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