Posted on: Tuesday, March 18, 2003

Lingle to get additional $838,136 for office expenses

By Gordon Y. K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Gov. Linda Lingle will receive $838,136 more for her office budget under an agreement reached between her office, and House and Senate leaders.

"We didn't want to be distracted with a minor issue compared to what is happening on the global, national level," said House Speaker Calvin Say yesterday in describing why lawmakers decided to put the issue of Lingle's office budget to rest.

Lingle initially sought an additional $1 million emergency appropriation from the House to be added to her office budget, stating she needed not only to restore money for staff and accrued vacation payouts, but also $93,500 to buy furniture for the newly completed governor's residence that was built with nonprofit money.

The Democratic-led House cut $491,000 from that amount when it forwarded the bill to the Senate earlier this month.

Last Friday, Sen. Cal Kawamoto, D-18th (Wai-pahu, Crestview, Pearl City), told his Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations Committee that his recommendation was to restore the full amount.

House Majority Leader Scott Saiki, D-22nd (McCully, Pawa'a), said the additional amount would put Lingle's office budget at $3.7 million, which would be higher than that of former Gov. Ben Cayetano's in his last several years.

Lingle said yesterday: "I think we reached a pretty good conclusion at this point and it's reinforced my feeling that the Legislature is a process."