GOP lawmakers look to Lingle for support on agenda
By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
They're back, but this time they have the governor on their side.
House and Senate Republicans yesterday unveiled a package of legislative proposals including longtime GOP favorites such as replacing the centralized Board of Education with local school boards and eliminating taxes on medical care and food.
Most of their ideas are not new, but the GOP has new hope that Republican Gov. Linda Lingle will be a significant boost to their agenda. Many proposals from the GOP lawmakers are very similar, if not identical, to those Lingle campaigned on.
"We think our package represents new solutions to old problems," said Senate Minority Leader Fred Hemmings, R-25th (Kailua, Waimanalo, Portlock). "We believe that business as usual in the past has been part of the problem. We intend to change business as usual with the help of the executive branch of government."
But it's still unclear how far the Republicans' proposals will advance in a Legislature controlled by Democrats. The GOP proposal to eliminate the general excise tax on food and medical services, for example, has been rejected by House and Senate Democrats in previous years. The Democrats argued the state cannot afford to lose those sources of revenue without cutting essential public services.
There are five Republicans in the 25-member Senate, and 15 Republicans in the 51-member House.
"As far as these proposals are concerned, will we have enough money to balance the budget and get these things off the ground? These are the questions we have right now," said Senate President Robert Bunda, D-22nd (North Shore, Wahiawa). "Pending outside forces, these proposals may not have a chance."
Hemmings said a general excise tax exemption on groceries and medical services would save taxpayers $182 million. He said the state can absorb the tax cuts without hurting state programs by eliminating the "tremendous amount" of vacancies in state government and by abolishing most special funds and returning the money to the state general treasury.
On the education front, Republicans want to decentralize the public-school system into locally elected school boards, a proposal Lingle campaigned on. They also want to increase the number of charter schools and provide them more support.
Senate Republicans want to annually reduce the general excise tax across the board by a half-percent, which they estimate would save taxpayers about $200 million per year. They also want to deregulate the ground and maritime transportation industries, as well as the electric and gas companies.
The House GOP wants — with Congress approval — to lift the ceiling on employees' share of health insurance premiums under the Prepaid Health Care Act. Lingle has said she opposes changing the employee/employer contribution ratio.
House Republicans also want the attorney general to be elected, as well as an automatic ballot recount in close elections.
Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.
