Women commission may lose state financial backing
By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
Gov. Linda Lingle is calling for the elimination of state financing for the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, a state entity that works on improving the lives of girls and women in Hawai'i.
Commission chairwoman Leslie Wilkins said the governor's recommendation would cut the commission's $95,000 operating budget, which includes the salaries for two administrative positions. She said without financing the commission would have to raise private money, and that the proposal sends a message that working for women's equality is no longer a priority in government.
The commission aims to ensure the equality of girls and women in Hawai'i and serves as a government advocate, consultant and information resource for the public and private sector. Among its projects is leading the Hawaii Family Economic Self-Sufficiency Standard Study, which analyzes how much money various types of families need to meet their basic needs.
The governor's recommendation prompted the Senate Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee yesterday to approve a resolution urging Lingle to finance the commission's operating budget. Nineteen representatives and senators also signed a letter to Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Brian Taniguchi and House Finance Chairman Dwight Takamine, asking them to continue the commission's financing.
Taniguchi, D-10th (Manoa, McCully), whose committee is crafting a draft of the state budget, said he will probably continue financing the commission.
The executive director of the commission, Allicyn Hikida Tasaka, was a spokeswoman for former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono, who lost the gubernatorial race to Lingle last year.
Lingle's press secretary, Russell Pang, said that did not factor into the governor's decision. Wilkins declined to comment on that point.
Pang said the governor is working to balance the budget and is just continuing the intent of the previous administration to move the commission off of state general funds and instead become self-sufficient by establishing a trust fund.
Wilkins said the commission's trust fund holds about $123,000, although most of that money is a result of a class-action lawsuit settlement last year, Wilkins said. Regular private donations make up about a fifth of the total trust fund amount, which is earmarked for health and wellness education programs and other community initiatives, not for administrative purposes, she said.
Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.
