Posted on: Tuesday, June 24, 2003

EDITORIAL
Long-term-care issue won't go away

That was quite a note of pessimism struck by state Rep. Dennis Arakaki after he learned that Gov. Linda Lingle had vetoed a long-term-care bill.

The measure included a $10-a-month payroll tax to support a barebones long-term-care plan as well as a $120 tax credit for those who buy private long-term-care insurance.

Lingle was strongly opposed to the $10-a-month plan, saying it would offer minimal benefits at a substantial cost and would be regressive.

Arakaki said he doubts such legislation will ever be introduced again:

"Many advocates have told me that if it didn't pass this time, they don't see why it would be worth the effort in the future," he said. "If the governor doesn't buy it conceptually, then really there's no sense in pushing it."

Arakaki should not give up. It is beyond argument that the need for long-term-care for our rapidly aging population will only become greater with time. Now that the decks have been cleared by Lingle's veto, it is imperative that the administration, working with lawmakers and with long-term-care professionals, use the months between now and the 2004 session to come up with an alternative package that can make it into law.

Doing nothing is not an option.