State senators on a special legislative committee examining public teacher furloughs said they want to urge Gov. Linda Lingle to make use of $35 million in federal stimulus funds that are entirely at her discretion.

The money, they say, has yet to be spent and could cover the cost of several furlough days if given to the state Department of Education. The state currently saves about $5 million a day for each furlough Friday.
“A missing component at the table is the governor. Whether we agree or not, she has discretion over these funds. Hopefully all parties are willing to take a look at how we can quickly restore (furlough days),” said Sen. Jill Tokuda, a member of the state Senate’s Special Committee to consider furloughs.
Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto told senators that the DOE would be willing to renegotiate the furlough days as soon as money was available to put teachers back in the classroom.
Sen. Will Espero, vice-chairman of the committee, said lawmakers do not have the authority to tell the governor how to spend the $35 million, which are known as the “government services,” or Part B of the federal State Fiscal Stabilization Fund.
Espero requested the DOE and the state Board of Education send letters to the governor to urge her to use the money to plug the furlough days.