Yes, the state is hurting for money. But proposals by the state administration and lawmakers — divert a tax for the city rail project to pay state bills — is a disastrous idea.

Anyone tracking the rollercoaster twists and turns of mass-transit planning over the decades realizes this city's record of indecision is well known in the nation's capital. How many heads must be shaking in Washington now?

A few reasons to feel exasperated with all this:

• Elected officials created the half-percent tax surcharge for O'ahu specifically to finance the rail project. At almost the precise point when work should be starting, state politicians are attempting to short-circuit this funding mechanism. Not only is this disingenuous to taxpayers, it's also terribly short-sighted.

• The people themselves voted to approve the rail project, in a referendum held last fall. That vote sent a "build the train" directive that some politicians seem to be ignoring. Gov. Linda Lingle has long advocated home rule for the counties. What happened to home rule here, governor? What happened to your publicly stated pledge to "let the people decide?"

• The argument is being made that tax money is more urgently needed for other purposes and that the transit money pipeline can be restarted later. But this overlooks the fact that any delay sends a message to Congress that could cost the state dearly in federal funds and much-needed jobs. Our entire congressional delegation is in agreement on that score.

• Equally as disturbing is the taint of politics. Among those seeking to put rail on a back burner are the governor and a top lawmaker, both of whom have been key players in the political battle over the rail and the mayoral campaign. Lingle signed the "Stop Rail Now" petition favored by opponents of Mayor Mufi Hannemann, the leading proponent of the project. Senate President Colleen Hanabusa lent her support to Hannemann's key re-election challenger, Ann Kobayashi.

And this is not likely the last time they find themselves to be political rivals, as the 2010 campaign comes into view.

Public interests must trump politics in decisions affecting one of the most important public works projects in Hawai'i's history.

The latest storm clouds threatening Honolulu's fixed-rail project blew in during the state Legislature's opening day. The state's tax director, Georgina Kawamura, outlined the bleak budgetary picture while floating ideas for raising more revenues.

These included the use of the rail tax surcharge for state purposes. In addition to the Lingle administration's idea, Hanabusa suggested a hiatus for the rail tax, presumably as a form of relief to taxpayers during difficult times.

Both plans are wrongheaded. A general excise tax holiday of a half percentage point would have too little impact on taxpayer wallets to help the economy. And redirecting the tax to the general fund, as the administration suggests, will prove costly in the long run.

Specifically, disrupting local transit financing risks a delay in federal approval for the project and holds up the federal share of the money — hundreds of millions of dollars desperately needed in Hawai'i. The construction salaries the project generates will trickle down to benefit the rest of the economy.

Delay also will endanger the investment of private money in the transit-oriented development projects envisioned around each of the train stops. That's more jobs, more tax revenue that the city and state governments need.

Hawai'i's Congressional delegation has two members well placed to shepherd the rail project through. U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono sits on the key Subcomittee on Infrastructure and Transportation.

Even more fortuitously, U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye chairs the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, and he has repeatedly warned leaders back home against sending mixed signals.

"One of the major reasons why our transit project has received federal support, up until now, is because there is a dedicated source of local funding in place," Hirono told The Advertiser. "Any move that would jeopardize that dedicated source, I think, would raise concerns."

In this economy, there are many cities eager for federal construction funds. If the state waters down the commitment from Honolulu, why wouldn't the committee, and the Federal Transit Administration, simply hand the approval to the next city on the list?

This is the time for the Congressional delegation to speak up — loudly — against this tax diversion. The folly of the state's proposed money grab should be apparent to everyone, but it's plain that taxpayers need advocates from D.C. to defend their interests.

Otherwise, politicians who are treating this crucial public-works project like a political football are going to seize control. Honolulu has made too much hard-fought progress to let that happen.