GOVERNOR LINGLE SUBMITS RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO BILLS INCLUDED IN FINANCIAL PLAN TO CLOSE REVENUE SHORTFALL

For Immediate Release: March 6, 2009

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle today submitted to the State Legislature recommended amendments to three bills that would provide statutory changes needed to help meet a projected $650 million revenue shortfall for the remainder of the current fiscal year (FY09) and biennium budget fiscal years 2010 through 2011. 

On Wednesday, Governor Lingle submitted to the Legislature a financial plan that proposes a series of nine actions to help close the revenue shortfall.  Six of proposed actions require statutory changes, which can be accomplished through six bills currently before the Legislature.  Three of the bills are satisfactory in their current form and three require amendments, copies of which are attached.

The nine actions are in addition to an $81 million plan submitted in January to close the FY09 shortfall.

The Governor’s letter to Senate President Hanabusa and House Speaker Calvin Say states:

“We are asking the Legislature to work with us….  We know that some of the bills are currently being held in committee, or are still pending hearings. Given the upcoming internal legislative deadlines for crossover of measures between the House and Senate, there is still time to either reconsider action on these bills or waive procedural deadlines to move them forward for further discussions.

Read Governor Lingle's letter to Speaker Say regarding the proposed amendments.

Proposed amendments to:

- HB1156
- HB1733
- HB1740

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For more information, contact:

Linda Smith
Senior Advisor – Policy
Phone: (808) 586-0027

Georgina Kawamura
Director, Budget & Finance
Phone: (808) 586-1518

Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: (808) 586-7708

Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: (808) 586-0043