Earlier today the Hawai’i State Legislature overrode 34 vetoes, which Gov. Linda Lingle criticized, saying it will add to the budget shortfall.
Among the bills that will become law include measures that will take away the right to a secret ballot from employees who wish to form a union, make it difficult for employers to check the credit history of prospective employees, and will require employers to continue to pay the medical costs of individuals who are deemed ready to return to work.
The state Senate had failed to override a veto of a bill that would have raised the barrel tax on petroleum products by $1 to help finance food and energy-security programs and Lingle’s clean-energy initiative.

A late lobbying campaign by the airline industry, which was concerned about potentially higher fuel costs, persuaded some senators not to support an override.
“The airline industry gave a full court press at the end,” said state Senate Majority Leader Gary Hooser, D-7th (Kaua’i, Ni’ihau). “They planted seeds of doubt and apprehension in terms of the impact.”
State Rep. Hermina Morita, D-14th (Hanalei, Anahola, Kapa'a), said she was disappointed. The barrel tax increase – from 5 cents to $1.05 – would have bumped the per gallon price of gasoline by a few cents but would have provided the state an estimated $31 million a year for food and energy-security programs.
“This could have been viewed as an economic stimulus, redirecting monies that we send out of the state for reinvestment in the state,” Morita said.
“All I can say is, from the (Lingle) administration and Senate side, there was no commitment for food and energy security.”
The Senate also declined to override a veto of a bill that would have required developers to include more affordable housing in projects in Kaka’ako. Both vetoes will stand.
Lingle vetoed several bills today, including a bill to amend state campaign-finance law to allow political candidates to accept more campaign money from Mainland donors.
Today was the deadline for the governor to veto bills passed at the close of last session.
The state House and Senate met in special session to consider veto overrides. Two-thirds’ votes from both chambers are required for overrides.
Lingle chose not to veto a bill that restricts high-technology investment tax credits known as Act 221, which would save the state about $120 million over two years and help with a budget deficit.
Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona disagreed with the governor’s decision, arguing it could cripple investment in the high-tech industry.
The governor also did not veto a bill that would restructure struggling public hospitals in the Hawaii Health Systems Corp.
As of 2 p.m., the state House and Senate had agreed to override several
vetoes, including: