Kulani

The recent announcement of the closing of Kulani Correctional Facility should serve as an example of how the governor has handled negotiations with the public unions. Layoff notices without talking to people, no discussions with the Hawaii mayor and information given to the news media before the people involved.
The budget and public union negotiations are two separate issues. The governor has used her public relations staff to fool the people into believing this is the same problem. The budget shortfall is not a consequence of public worker salaries. It is the result of the global economic situation. What the governor has chosen to do is instead of addressing the economic situation she is using the situation to attack public workers and unions.
Instead of putting forth a position that the people that we will survive this economic downturn. Instead of putting forth a plan to stimulate the economy. Instead of assuring the people that needed services will continue to be provided. She has chosen to use fear and threats to public worker unions to further her image and divert attention away from the lack of a plan to address the economy.


Egan Kawamoto
Ewa Beach
808-292-4986

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I was on the Political Action Committee during the 2002 and 2006 elections. During those days we were really taking a beating from some teachers who supported Lingle. Now I hope people understand what we were saying.
Some supported her because they were unhappy of the bureaucracy of the state and the DOE. But six years later little has changed. Why? It is not because of the democratic legislative majority. It is because she is unable to have a vision of Hawaii. While she talked of downsizing government she did nothing. While she talked of finding people willing to take a cut in pay to serve she gave them raises. Help education? She has done the most to hurt education by attacking teachers and cutting funding.
She has given us an administration that has made poor decisions. Has been losing cases in court. And is trying to govern with sound bites and public relations. Avoiding tough decisions and making minor ones seem important.
“ Don’t blame me, I voted for Lingle.” Now are you willing to accept the blame?

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While we are looking at what transpired with Judge Sakamoto’s ruling we have overlooked something. That the governor will further restrict funds allocated to education. Further cuts will come at the expense of elective classes.
It is unfortunate that because of the lack of funds many schools will make cuts under the theory of: Don’t test? Don’t teach.
Over the past six years the education system in Hawaii has been shortchanged. An $86.5 million cut by the legislature for the next two fiscal years. Another $80+ million cut that is required by the executive budget. And now we look at a further cut that will affect @ 9.8% of the DOE budget. These cuts will be devastating to elective classes such as band, chorus, orchestra, art classes and other arts classes and electives. Also in jeopardy will be co-curricular, extra –curricular and even athletics.
While federal funds for education are coming they are not without restrictions. It would cost $37 million just to meet the assurances for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Other funding has specific restrictions on what they may be used for.
State Fiscal Stabilization Fund should be used to assist those schools that do not qualify for Title I funding. Yet our governor has chosen destabilize and demoralize public education.

negotiatios

In the negotiations with the public unions there seems to be some misunderstanding. For clarification it is not the public unions’ job to balance the budget. Their job is to protect their members and negotiate a contract. If their job is to balance the budget when was this constitutional change implemented?
Negotiate means to come to agreement through discussion. Yet the governor chooses not to discuss a resolution. How can you negotiate when your negotiator walks out?
As for the teachers’ drug testing. It cannot be implemented because it has been shown to be unconstitutional, as shown by decisions in other states. Or does she want it to go to court again like the furloughs and super ferry?
It seems that many do not seem to understand that instead of covering a shortfall by cutting services, the governor’s job is to boost the economy. The fewer dollars in circulation the longer the recession will last. Those in the private sector must realize that. As the take reductions their employer is also trying to open new revenue streams. Or are they just digging in and waiting it to pass by like our governor?
Other questions need to be answered by the governor. In awarding new contracts that will be open to bid, will the governor ask the contractors reduce their bid and pay their employees 5% less in wages? Did the governor look at overtime pay? What is her position on overtime pay? What about differentials? If an employee comes to work on their own time and is injured, will they be covered by workman’s comp? Has the governor looked at her personal staff to see if there is overstaffing? What about her household staff? Has the governor looked at what are the priorities?
Someone said, “Laying off people is difficult to do, but it is a necessary part of the strategy.” Okay governor, what is the strategy?