EDITORIAL
Lingle set the stage for an impressive year

Gov. Linda Lingle's 2005 State of the State address was an impressive mixture of ambition and conciliation.

If that tone can be matched by the Democratic majority in the Legislature through the rest of the session, this could be an impressive year indeed.

This does not mean the Democrats have to accept Lingle's agenda in total. In fact, she suggested as much.

But the speech offered the bones of what could be an effective record of accomplishment for both the administration and the Legislature, if they can work together.

Without saying it in so many words, Lingle clearly acknowledged the increased political strength of the Democrats, who gained numbers last election despite a strong effort by the Lingle camp to elect more Republicans.

"Not many expected that the first year or two with a new governor would go very smoothly, and the public has been patient with us," Lingle said in a bit of artful understatement.

"The people have given us a couple of years to get to know each other, and now they want results. ... They want leaders who compromise to achieve common goals."

Democratic initiatives

As is customary in such speeches, Lingle did a little bragging about what her administration has accomplished. While there have been substantial accomplishments, she also sought to take credit — or at least partial credit — for economic improvements that really have their roots in the Legislature and in past Democratic administrations.

There is new energy in the air and people are excited, she noted, by projects such as the new medical school in Kaka'ako and the Natural Energy Lab on the Big Island.

Yes, they're excited. But those projects were kick-started by Democratic administrations. The current administration can take credit for good stewardship, but the seeds of today's prosperity were planted — as House Speaker Calvin Say noted pointedly on opening day — by Democrats in years past.

For instance, local economic optimism must owe something to the massive income tax cuts pushed by former Gov. Ben Cayetano. And the booming construction industry owes much to the work of Hawai'i Democrats in Congress who pushed through huge military construction projects.

Nonetheless, with prosperity in the air, Lingle offered impressive and innovative ideas on how prosperity can be used for the greater good.

Her most important proposal was a series of tax cuts and tax relief programs aimed directly at those on the lower end of the income scale.

These important proposals must be taken seriously by any Democrat who remembers his or her political roots.

Particularly compassionate was Lingle's call for elimination of current policies that reduce welfare payments for those parents who go to work to support their families.

Housing program

Also noteworthy was a package of tax credits, government spending and other initiatives under an "Affordable Homes Act of 2005" that aims at building up to 17,000 affordable homes over the next six years.

This program could go a long way toward easing what is one of the major social strains in Hawai'i today.

We heard some warning bells, however, in Lingle's call for "streamlining the cumbersome government review process that has slowed the development of affordable housing." Everyone, including us, applauds streamlining. But those words, coupled with proposals in the Legislature to rethink the usefulness of the state Land Use Commission, give us pause.

We cannot allow the rightful cause of affordable housing to become a Trojan horse for doing away with laws that have protected open space and guided development over the years.

Early education

Another impressive and socially responsible proposal in Lingle's plans for 2005 was a major initiative to expand and improve the early childhood education system in Hawai'i.

Her companion proposal to boost long-term care for the elderly, while helpful, does not go far enough. It would offer tax credits for those who buy their own long-term-care insurance, a benefit that helps mostly the wealthy.

We were mildly disappointed not to hear mention of the need for campaign spending reform and felt there was inadequate attention to the challenges of homelessness that go beyond affordable housing.

But all in all, it was a progressive, thoughtful and businesslike speech that sets important agendas across the spectrum for the 2005 session.