STATE OF THE STATE
Reactions to Lingle's address

Advertiser Staff

"It was an ambitious agenda. I've heard many ambitious agendas, and we'll see what works out between the governor and the Legislature."

"We fully recognize we're not going to change things overnight — not after 40 years of building bigger government and more taxes — but it's something she is going to do."

"We have to work together and that without question means compromise. It doesn't mean that the governor is going to get everything she wants, but it means that we work together in the spirit of understanding that this is a state with some pretty heavy problems and it's time that we pull together and start tackling them rather than sort of maintaining the view that everything's OK, because it really isn't."

"I was very much inspired by her speech. It was one of the better speeches I've heard throughout my career in public office."

"I think it's good to investigate creative and innovative ways to educate all of Hawai'i's young people. I'm a bit shocked that she didn't include anything about the environment. It's scary to hear all these ideas about economic development and expansion and hear no vision from the governor about how to be a good long-term caretaker of the 'aina (land) and wai (water)."

"I liked what she said about choice in education, but I wish she had talked more about the regular schools. I don't think local school boards are a good idea, because it's just more bureaucracy."

"I think she's got a lot of good ideas, but I don't think she's capable of getting them accomplished."

"I think the bolder proposal, certainly, was turning over all collective bargaining and civil service authority to the counties. That's certainly a bold move. We have a situation now, of course, where the governor and one Neighbor Island mayor determine basically all the collective bargaining decisions for the City and County of Honolulu and that's just not fair."

"I was pleased that the governor acknowledged we need a level playing field for everyone. We have regulations and laws that are so skewed to (help) the consumer and 'the little guy,' (that) businesses are expected to jump through unbelievable hoops."