Governor, lawmakers must align on budget
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It's encouraging to see the governor's commitment to financing many critical infrastructure improvements, the highlight of her proposed supplemental budget.
Certainly, there is no shortage of projects that need attention, considering the state of Hawai'i's crumbling infrastructure. This is the primary reason to applaud Gov. Linda Lingle's proposal, at least as far as it goes toward catching up the state with its backlog of new construction work.
And this is a substantial increase: The proposal is to triple the capital improvements from current levels, to a total of $1.6 billion.
There's potential for stimulating the economy with the new construction. The anticipated slowdown is one reason the governor has chosen this time to channel funding to major construction projects in the hopes of resuscitating economic growth.
That's a solid rationale, but regardless of that possible side effect, the state needs to rev up its timetable for upgrades in any case.
Among the highlights in the budget request:
State Sen. Rosalyn Baker, who chairs the Ways and Means Committee, fears that even this outlay is too sparse and added that lawmakers will scrutinize the priorities the governor has applied.
That indeed is their job, but surely there's ample common ground on this job list. When final decisions are made on funding allotments, the taxpayers have the right to demand that they be made on the basis of need, and that the legislative and executive branches spend rationally, rather than each favoring its own pet projects.
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