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?

Letter to Editor

Star Bulletin printed my letter asking for gov's resignation. And of course one of the first responses was calling me a "whinny, state or unionized employee." Go figure.
The gov still seems teflon and nothing sticks.

Lingle must resign

Dear Editor,

I believe that Governor Lingle must resign. By reading the various forums on your web site it seems to me that she has done something that is unforgivable. She has turned the people of Hawaii against each other. People in Hawaii have assumed an attitude of us versus them. That what happens to us should happen to them. She has taken forums that were previously used for open discussion into forums of personal attacks. Personal attacks should not be the language of discussion or disagreements. It should be the job of the governor to unite the people of Hawaii.
There is a lot of misinformation around now and it seems that the governor is not willing to clarify any of it. That many people believe what she says makes more important that she be giving accurate and unbiased information.
But lastly to demand cuts in the education budget or to suggest using that money to balance the budget and then finding out that she has only applied for the funds now to me is inexcusable. We need a leader that unites us against the problems of society not one content with divisiveness.


Egan Kawamoto
Ewa Beach

808-292-4986

June 19

It seems that people do not understand that state employees contribute to the economy. That some how unions are the cause of the recession. That the recession would not happen if we had let private businesses flourish. I propose that on June 19 all state, county and union workers not spend a dime. I would like to see what private business owners would do when their sales figures are lower than anticipated.
I chose June 19 because it is a payday and all merchants expect a bump in sales.

I am also thinking of a couple of things that I might do to combat these mistaken notions. Raise my state withholding will lower tax revenues and also put a few dollars in my pocket. Pay my bills as late as I can. This doesn’t work for credit cards but canceling cards by local banks might work. Put off purchasing anything as long as I can.

Also don’t listen to Perry and Price and KSSK. They have proven to be shills for the governor, anti-union and purveyors of propaganda. In their reporting they have “mislead” many on the positions of unions. I don’t eat at Shiro’s or L&L Drive In because they both are public supporters of the governor. I also don’t shop at WalMart or Sam’s Club. They are people who are anti union, have personnel policies that harm the safety of their workers and are a drain on the public health system wherever they go. They also are one of the largest contributors to pro education voucher groups.

June 19th, gas up your car a day early or later. Have breakfast at home or take a thermos of coffee with you. Fill a cooler with refreshments for the day. Take a home lunch with you. Have a family dinner at home. Plan your purchases. Plan your day. June 19th plan for it and do it. I will.