Lawmakers approve two veto overrides
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By Derrick DePledge, Gordon Y.K. Pang and Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Staff Writers
State lawmakers voted yesterday to override Gov. Linda Lingle's veto of the Democrats' education-reform package, ensuring progress on what has been the most contentious issue this session.
But lawmakers also agreed to make concessions in response to suggestions from the Republican governor, who had described the package as flawed in her veto message.
Lawmakers made a midnight deadline to get the changes ready for a final vote Thursday, the session's last day.
The Legislature, moving quickly as the session ends, also voted to override Lingle's vetoes on raises for white-collar state workers and special fund raids.
The education changes, while not exactly what the governor wanted, would clarify the power of principals over their schools and give charter schools the option of participating in a new student spending formula.
"I think we're meeting her part way," state Sen. Norman Sakamoto, D-15th (Waimalu, Airport, Salt Lake), chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said of Lingle.
The education package would fundamentally change how public schools in Hawai'i are financed.
Schools would receive money based on a new formula that reflects student need, rather than enrollment. Lawmakers agreed yesterday that a minimum of 15 schools, one from each of the state Department of Education's complexes, would be part of a pilot on the formula in 2005.
Principals would oversee 70 percent of school operating money, giving them much more discretion than they have now. Lawmakers recommended that the DOE study whether that amount should be higher, after Lingle had asked that principals get 90 percent control over spending.
Principals get power
New school councils would be required at every school and would have some say over school management, but lawmakers agreed last night to give principals the power to draft the budget and curriculum.
The council could recommend revisions, and disputes would be settled by complex-area superintendents or higher up within the Department of Education.
Lingle had wanted the councils to be purely advisory.
State Senate Minority Leader Fred Hemmings, R-25th (Kailua, Waimanalo, Hawai'i Kai), said the overall package falls short.
"The bill is filled with appearances, not substance," Hemmings said.
Yesterday, Lingle vetoed raises awarded by an arbitration panel for the state's 23,000 white-collar workers, a move turned back hours later by the Legislature. In March, arbitrators awarded raises of between 5 percent and 9 percent to various units of the Hawai'i Government Employees Association.
Raises cited as expensive
The governor said the state cannot afford the raises, which are projected to cost $32 million in fiscal year 2005, which begins July 1, and $54 million annually beginning July 1 of next year.
"It's not because I want to withhold this award but because it will create larger deficits," she said.
Lingle said she has placed state agencies on a moratorium for all discretionary spending, including the purchase of equipment and furniture, training, supplies, motor vehicles and consultant and personal services contracts.
Lawmakers also overrode Lingle's line-item vetoes in House Bill 2743, which raided $43.6 million from various special funds.
Lingle's vetoes would have restored about $17 million, including $12.5 million from the state highway fund.
The Senate overrode Lingle's veto of House Bill 2608, which authorizes the Hawai'i Tourism Authority to hire private attorneys, authorize the appointment of a sports coordinator and other provisions.
Senators also overrode the governor's veto of House Bill 267, which allows the state Campaign Spending Commission and the Office of Elections to communicate directly with the Legislature and the governor, make personnel decisions and purchase equipment without the approval of the state comptroller.
Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8084; Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070; and Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.
