GOVERNOR LINGLE ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVES IN STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
For Immediate Release: January 26, 2004
HONOLULU – In her second State of the State Address, Governor Linda Lingle discussed several new initiatives in five priority areas: building safe communities, achieving a healthier Hawai`i, preserving Hawai`i’s unique environment, strengthening and diversifying the economy, and reforming the public education system. The following excerpts from her 52-minute speech highlight these new proposals.
Balancing the State Budget
“I propose amending the State Constitution to require the Legislature to enact a balanced budget.”
Building Safe Communities
“We have already allocated $19.6 million in our 2005 budget for drug treatment.”
“I call upon legislators to make permanent the law that allows for the seizure and forfeiture of cars and other property belonging to convicted drug felons.”
“I am proposing legislation to toughen mandatory and minimum sentencing laws for repeat offenders.”
“We want to make it a felony for people to continue driving after their license has been suspended or revoked.”
“Police officers lack the authority to enforce trespassing laws in public housing projects. Current laws treat these housing projects as private property, making it difficult for police to remove disruptive individuals from those projects housing the poor and elderly. We want this law changed.”
Achieving a Healthier Hawai`i
“My administration is also proposing an additional $5 million in state funds to be matched with federal dollars so we can provide medical assistance to an additional 6,000 children who are currently eligible for Medicaid, but not enrolled due to cultural or other barriers. These funds will also be utilized to enroll 1,000 additional very low-income adults who have been shut out of the program due to enrollment caps.”
“To increase the availability of lower-cost generic drugs, we are proposing legislation to improve procedures of the Drug Product Selection Boards.”
Preserving Hawai`i’s Unique Environment
“It is important to remain vigilant in addressing man-made contaminants. That is why our Administration is proposing legislation to make illegal dumping of solid waste a felony.”
“We will also encourage private landowners to work cooperatively with the State Department of Health to clean up contaminated properties.”
“Conservation, waste-to-energy programs and alternative energy initiatives can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and move our state to the forefront of progressive energy policies. To demonstrate the state’s commitment and leadership role, I ask you today to pass our bill that mandates 20% of all electricity sold in the year 2020 come from renewable sources. This ambitious goal would be mandated in steps through a balance of incentives and penalties. We are also proposing a bill to encourage the use of non-fossil fuels by exempting them from the Hawai`i state fuel tax.”
Strengthening and Diversifying the Economy
“We are also proposing to exempt from state income taxes the military pay of our citizens in uniform fighting in hostile combat zones. This exemption would apply to the Hawai`i National Guard and to reserve forces of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marines. I urge the Legislature to join me in showing our citizen soldiers and their families how much they are appreciated by passing this piece of legislation – and passing it quickly!”
“We want to eliminate the current charge businesses must pay to receive something called a "Certificate of Good Standing." When companies comply with our laws, they shouldn't have to pay the government to acknowledge that fact. The business community should be our partner in economic development, not a profit center for government bureaucracy.”
“We want to give residential building contractors the opportunity to lower their insurance costs through legislation permitting them to repair defects before litigation is filed. This will help hold down escalating housing costs.”
“We also want to build on Hawai`i's strong reputation in the captive insurance field by making our state a port of entry for foreign insurance companies that would like to do business in the United States.”
Reforming the Public Education System
“My budget requests $480,000 to pay teachers $5,000 more per year when they achieve certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.”
“My education bill mandates that 90% of operating funds would go directly to the schools instead of being swallowed up by a vast bureaucracy.”
The full text of the Governor’s State of the State Address as well as an overview of the Administration’s 2004 legislative initiatives are posted on the Governor’s Web site at www.hawaii.gov/gov.
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For more information, contact:
Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: (808) 586-7705
Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: (808) 586-0043
