STATE OF THE STATE
Key points from Gov. Lingle's address
Advertiser Staff
EDUCATION
• Create seven locally elected school boards, if citizens support the change by approving state constitutional amendment.
• Allow home-schooled children to participate in extracurricular activities in public schools, such as band and sports teams.
• Increase charter school funding to cover full cost of educating each child.
• Make school principals more accountable by taking them out of the union.
• Implement voluntary drug testing in schools with the goal of counseling and treatment.
GOVERNMENT REFORM
• Mandatory prison time and other severe penalties for officials who "abuse the public's trust."
• Ban golf outings and other lavish gifts to public officials.
• Ban campaign contributions from non-bid contractors.
• Revamp the way state awards contracts; allow bidding via the Internet.
• Prohibit coercion of state workers to sign-wave or participate in other political activities.
ECONOMY
• Increase state income tax standard deduction to 50% of federal level within three years, and eventualy to 100%.
• Support Ko Olina tax credit, on the condition that the developer pay for job training for Leeward Coast residents.
HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS
• Lobby Congress for passage of Native Hawaiian recognition bill.
• Resolve ceded lands payment issue, including making $10.3 million payment to OHA.
HEALTH CARE
• Provide free prescription drugs to about 20,000 low-income residents through public-private venture.
• Give 30% tax credit for costs of long-term care insurance.
• Eliminate 4% excise tax paid by health insurers on the policies they issue; this may encourage other insurers to enter the Hawai'i market.
GOVERNMENT
• Turn over more power to counties in areas of civil service systems, collective bargaining and fireworks laws. Let counties keep money from uncontested traffic tickets.
• Remove party politics from administration of elections.
• Mandatory recounts in close elections.
• Make permanent the higher legal age of consent of 16 years of age.
