Posted on: Sunday, May 6, 2007
Leaders have little to crow about at legislative session's end
There's nothing wrong with whittling away at a big problem, if the pace of work is brisk enough to make some real progress.
But unfortunately for taxpayers, that significant progress was lacking in this year's legislative session.
Hawai'i continues to struggle with a lack of affordable housing and access to quality healthcare. At the same time, it doesn't seem that we are keeping up with fundamental issues — let alone fulfilling hopes for long-term "sustainability."
Each new legislative session represents a narrow window of opportunity for change; 60 days, to be exact. And although lawmakers managed to push through some important initiatives, many were left by the wayside. With Hawai'i's part-time Legislature, critical time will be lost before lawmakers can pick them back up again.
First, some key accomplishments:
In keeping with its decision to channel aid to the most vulnerable populations, the Legislature approved a three-year pilot project to provide basic health insurance to children not covered by the state insurance program for the poor or by other private providers. This is a critical humanitarian service and an important investment in the health of many of our youth, who then may head off serious and more costly medical problems later in life.
There has been at least measured support for the important economic innovation package, initiatives that are favored both by Gov. Linda Lingle and by legislative leadership. The administration has vowed to seek private sponsorships to supplement the taxpayer funds allotted for science and technology academies, hoping to expand beyond the limited scope of the pilot project in Kaua'i schools authorized by lawmakers.
Concern about declining revenues may have curbed spending on these projects for now; lawmakers need to evaluate the startups and put up some real backing in the upcoming session. Innovation won't yield much fruit without real risk-taking.
The Legislature was forward-thinking enough to begin plans on ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It's an important policy step that must be followed with commitment to changes in how we live in harmony with our precious environment.
About $29 million was pumped into improvements of affordable housing units, with an additional $5 million for homeless solutions.
Lawmakers prodded the state closer to transparency in the high-tech tax credit program, requiring businesses that claim it to file reports on jobs created and other key information.
Unfortunately, there also were some areas where lawmakers stopped short of creating meaningful policy:
Very little progress was made toward laying the groundwork for sensible use of important agricultural lands. The process of designating prime lands for cultivation seems to have stalled — a critical failing if this state ever hopes to resurrect a thriving agricultural industry for the production of biofuels and for food crops.
The bailout enabling Kukui Gardens units to remain affordable brought relief to those families, but the deal represented a less-than-desirable bargain for the taxpayers. In addition, very little progress has been made in planning for the turnover in numerous public-housing projects coming due. Kukui Gardens is only the first, and with our burgeoning homeless population, the failure to head off this crisis will add even more strain.
Similarly, the Legislature rescued Kahuku Hospital by placing it under the state's umbrella, as expected. But a larger healthcare crisis still looms. In particular, the lack of specialized medical care in rural districts, made worse by the exodus of frustrated physicians, has not been addressed in any systematic way. That must include a realistic look at reimbursements and a sensible approach to tort reform.
Finally, lawmakers complicated the management of government work by making procedures and criteria on job assignments, transfers and other actions a matter for collective bargaining.
Perhaps the most distressing aspect of the session just passed is the lack of any sense of urgency to meet public needs. Housing, healthcare, education... Hawai'i doesn't have time to waste on any of these fronts.
It's pretty hard to dream about sustainability when you can't even keep up.
