DOE, BOE, HSTA MADE TOUGH CHOICE

Reaction to public school teachers ratifying the Hawaii State Teachers Association contract is understandably focused on the impact to our students.

However, comments blaming Gov. Lingle for furloughing teachers are misdirected.

Gov. Lingle does not have the legal authority to furlough or lay off teachers or other DOE employees, nor is she able to determine when schools will be closed.

The Department of Education and Board of Education took the lead in negotiating the new contract with the HSTA. These three parties made the difficult choice to furlough teachers as part of the DOE's share of helping to close the state's growing budget shortfall. Once the tentative contract was agreed to by the DOE, BOE and HSTA, Gov. Lingle then gave her approval, and the contract was overwhelmingly ratified by teachers by a vote of 81 percent.

The decision to furlough teachers and close schools on furlough days was not something anyone wanted. However, the DOE, BOE and HSTA felt it was the fairest way to address the budget shortfall.

They could have laid off employees or implemented pay cuts and required teachers to work. They could have had teachers take furloughs on non-instructional days or on state holidays.

The bottom line is the DOE, BOE and HSTA were faced with making decisions that inevitably would not please everyone.

I applaud Superintendent Pat Hamamoto, the BOE members and HSTA leaders for demonstrating leadership and making difficult decisions that in the end will keep our teachers employed so they can focus on educating our students.

Marie Laderta | State chief negotiator

VOTING

REGISTER TO VOTE, GIVE A VOICE TO VOICELESS

Last year I registered as a voter for the first time. I joined a political campaign as a volunteer for the first time. All this at the age of 54 and now I legally have the right to voice my opinions about politics. What I have learned from this experience is registering to vote is easy, convenient and patriotic.

The process to learn about the candidates and bills to give you a "fair and unbiased vote" is where it all gets discouraging. Like so many of us watching and reading about our economy and the politicians battling it out and the media reporting it all is confusing and causing us to polarize our opinions. What is clear to me is registering to vote is the most important duty you can do as an American citizen because it starts the process of getting you concerned about our state and country.

Politicians, their personal ambitions, the people they surround themselves with do matter and the decisions they make will impact our daily lives for better or worse. In the coming months before the next voting, register to vote and vote on behalf of the ones that don't have representation, starting with your children.

I believe all political sides have a genuine want to see us all do better, I believe some are more right than others and I believe the American people will rise above all these troubling issues from sheer will and need to protect our way of life. God bless America.

Johnny Kai | Honolulu

IMMIGRANTS

HEALTH CARE REFORM WILL LESSEN IMPACTS

The Sept. 20 letter ("State should be paid back for COFA costs") does not give a balanced picture of the impact of legal immigrants from the Compact of Free Association countries on Hawai'i. I agree that COFA costs are primarily a federal government responsibility. However, the $101 million cost claim far exceeds the few tens of millions cited by others. It may include unwarranted claims.

My family and I are COFA immigrants who came here to work and put our children in schools. It is incorrect to claim the cost of education of our children as we are generally employed and pay plenty of taxes in Hawai'i. COFA immigrants include professionals and minimum-wage earners. Often we take jobs that nobody else is willing to do for the wage offered. Examples: COFA citizens are essential to the Kona coffee harvest. Many own homes and some own businesses. They work multiple jobs, often part time and lacking employer-paid health care. For QUEST it is better not to work because the cutoff is far below full-time minimum-wage employment earnings. Such gaps must be closed.

Universal health care and a health insurance mandate on legal immigrants, the same as citizens, are steps to close the disparity between federal government payments and what Hawai'i says it pays for COFA citizens.

Daniel C. Smith | Honolulu