Sign-wavers press Lingle to support long-term care

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

About a dozen members of the Hawai'i Women's Coalition waved signs in front of the State Capitol during the morning and afternoon rush hours yesterday, to bring attention to bills passed by the Legislature that could be vetoed by Gov. Linda Lingle.

The group waved signs yesterday urging the governor to support a bill establishing an income tax for a long-term-care benefits program. Today and tomorrow the demonstrators will ask Lingle to sign bills giving women easier access to emergency contraceptives and for the state to continue to support the Hawai'i State Commission on the Status of Women.

Lingle has indicated she will use a line-item veto to nix the state's annual contribution of $95,000 to the commission — the agency's entire budget — because she believes it should be self-sufficient since it has its own trust fund. Monday is the deadline for Lingle to give notice to lawmakers of her intent to veto any bills.

Lingle has hinted she will veto Senate Bill 1088, which would establish a long-term-care income tax starting at $120 a year, increasing to $276 in 2011. While she opposes the new tax, she does support another provision in the bill that provides long-term-care insurance policyholders a maximum tax credit of $120 a year for five years and a maximum of $180 a year for the following five years.

Also believed to be on Lingle's chopping block are House Bill 1123 and Senate Bill 658, which make it easier for women to obtain emergency contraceptives. House Bill 1123 allows pharmacists to dispense emergency contraceptives without a prescription. Senate Bill 658 requires hospitals to offer emergency contraceptives to rape victims.