Lingle also talked about building safe communities, promoting a healthier Hawai'i and preserving the environment.

Bracing for a fight with majority Democrats in both houses of the Legislature over her plan to create local boards to oversee public schools, Lingle urged the state’s 25 senators and 51 representatives to "lower the volume and look at the facts" when deciding whether to put the issue to voters in the form of a constitutional amendment question.

"Let the people be a part of their own government and participate in making this and other important decisions that will affect the lives of their families for years to come," Lingle said.

The Citizens Achieving Reform in Education advisory committee she formed last year "concluded that the structure of public education in Hawai'i is ineffective," the governor said. "It is time to stop tinkering and instead restructure our school system."

She also asked for $480,000 so that the state can pay teachers $5,000 more per year when they achieve certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

Lingle pointed to several other education reform measures her administration will propose this session, including one establishing a weighted student formula that assigns an amount of money to schools based on the number of students. Unlike localized school boards, Democrats have spoken in support of establishing a weighted student formula.

The administration's education package also calls for making principals more accountable to their schools, establishing a statewide education standards and accountability commission, provide more funds for charter schools, and increasing funding for school security.

"My goal is to begin implementing these initiatives by the fall of 2005, with final transition occurring by the fall of 2006," Lingle said. "Some have suggested that our school reform plan is moving too fast. Thirty years of studies and reports, and increased spending, and minor adjustments to the system prove otherwise. I believe the people of Hawai'i have waited too long for the schools to improve."

Lingle said that while the state's economy is improving, more needs to be done to stimulate business. She wants the Legislature to allow the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to lower business registration fees and adjust other fees as the agency sees fit. "These cuts, along with others made in the department, would save businesses roughly $6 million by June of 2005."

The governor also is seeking insurance-related reforms designed not just to bring down the cost of living, but also the cost of doing business. Another proposal calls for improving the workers’ compensation system. Other bills would address insurance reform and encourage investments through professional venture capitol managers and offer incentives for investment in research that University of Hawai'i-based.

Lingle encouraged lawmakers to support her package of anti-crime initiatives, a three-pronged approach centered on "combating substance abuse, increasing public safety and protecting vulnerable young people from being victimized."

One proposal calls for creating an after-school program for middle school students in order to give them healthy after-class activities. That program would be jump-started with $5 million in federal funds, Lingle said.

She also called for stiffer criminal penalties against drug-related crimes, including those who make illegal drugs in the presence of children. She also reiterated her call to strengthen the state's electronic surveillance laws and legalize "walk and talk" and "knock and talk" procedures for law enforcement officials.

"Law enforcement’s hands have been tied for too long," she said.

Other priorities cited by Lingle this morning:

• Providing better health care coverage to the disadvantaged, particularly those who are uninsured, including additional funding for community health centers.