EDITORIAL
Voters wanted change at the top, not conflict

Gov. Linda Lingle vaulted to power from a platform of reform. But already, her administration appears to be facing the very dysfunction she so forcefully campaigned against.

Though Lingle in March signed a measure for a school bus fare increase to be implemented this fall, the hike has been stalled because Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona's office was awaiting additional information from the DOE.

Education officials were depending on the fare increase — a projected net $486,000 — to make up for a shortfall, and are understandably frustrated about the holdup. Last week, Lingle spokesman Russell Pang said Aiona was holding on to the amendment because it did not state the date it would take effect.

The upshot, no matter who is at fault, is that there likely will be no increase until at least next spring.

And on another front, the Lingle administration is accusing the state auditor's office of illegally obtaining confidential information on food-stamp recipients from the Department of Human Services.

According to Advertiser Capitol Bureau reporter Lynda Arakawa, the alleged violation occurred during an audit of the DHS' electronic benefits transfer system, which distributes federal benefits under the food stamp program.

State Auditor Marion Higa contends the DHS is to blame for releasing the confidential information. State Attorney General Mark Bennett counters that a member of Higa's staff insisted on being given the restricted information.

If that's the case, then why didn't the DHS refuse to cooperate?

Again, we can't say who's right and who's wrong. But we can say that these clashes are slowing the flow of government business, and that's not the get-things-done style of change the voters endorsed.