Posted on: Tuesday, October 9, 2001

The September 11th attack
Cayetano stimulus plan faces struggle at Legislature

By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

As promised, Gov. Ben Cayetano has asked lawmakers to approve a list of nearly $1 billion in construction projects this month to give the Hawai'i construction industry a boost.

However, judging from the reactions of leading state lawmakers, Cayetano's request may be cut back dramatically in a special session this month.

The governor's $978 million list contains $292 million for University of Hawai'i projects, including $150 million to develop the new University of Hawai'i West O'ahu campus at Kapolei.

Cayetano also wants $394 million for public school repairs, maintenance and construction statewide, and $64 million to build a judiciary complex in Hilo.

Cayetano has said this is an ideal time to borrow and build because interest rates are low, and extra construction will give Hawai'i's economy a boost.

But House Speaker Calvin Say and others worry that Cayetano is trying to borrow too much money at a time when tourism is dropping off and state tax collections are slowing after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Say, D-18th (Palolo, St. Louis, Kaimuki) said he is willing to approve some construction projects if the Senate and House can agree in advance which ones should be financed. But he said he told administration officials they should limit state borrowing, and cancel a planned project for each new project that lawmakers pass in the special session.

Among the larger projects proposed by Cayetano are a new Bishop Museum Learning Center, $20 million; roads and other improvements to the Kaka'ako makai area to prepare for redevelopment, $20 million; and Hawaiian Home Lands projects around the state, $32 million.

Cayetano also is proposing $38 million to expand and renovate Maui Memorial Medical Center.

For the UH system, Cayetano proposed that $55 million go for a multi-purpose performing arts, athletics and conference center at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, and $18 million for a student services and administrative complex at Kaua'i Community College.

Cayetano also included $2.5 million to renovate the No. 1 Capitol District Building — also known as the Hemmeter Building — which the governor wants to convert into a gallery to display the work of Hawai'i artists.

Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Brian Taniguchi said it will be tough for lawmakers to back some of Cayetano's projects because this is the first they have heard of most of them.

The special session may not allow enough time to scrutinize each project, and "we're not going to just do any old projects," he said.

Taniguchi, D-11th (McCully, Mo'ili'ili, Manoa), noted lawmakers have already approved more than $450 million in construction projects, and said he would like to see those projects advance first.