The state Senate is facing funding bottlenecks as it tries to prop up the economy

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State Senate leaders said after the legislature was reconvened on Wednesday that two of the biggest challenges during the 2021 session will be deciding what can be funded and whether taxes need to be increased to cope with the governor’s proposed budget cuts David Ige getting ready.

Faced with double-digit unemployment in Hawaii, Senate President Ron Kouchi of Kauai said the top priority for economic recovery is “the ability for us to find a safe way for the children to return to school so the parents can … focus on their work.” can. ”

Oahu Vice President Michelle Kidani said the proposed budget cuts for the state education department are “something we will look into to address some of these loopholes.”

“We know the federal government will provide the DOE with $ 183.6 million,” said Kidani. “I think if we talk to some of the members of the education committee, we hope that most of it will be used at the school level to help our students and our teachers.”

Amid a projected deficit of $ 1.4 billion, Ige has proposed cutting spending and possibly increasing taxes based on how much additional revenue is needed. But the Democratic governor has postponed a plan to take government employees off and cut their wages by about 9% until at least July.

Kouchi said he tried to read what initiatives the government would propose in the 2021 session, but said he and other lawmakers are “getting so little information from department heads”. He said it is possible they may not want to reveal Iges plans to increase sales before his upcoming state address.

“Are you considering tax increases? If so, what would they be? ”Kouchi considered. “… If there is a reluctance on the part of the legislator to raise taxes, what other options are there? What concrete activities would it be to create jobs or to promote economic development? “

Kouchi noted that states have received an extension of unspent coronavirus aid funds for an additional year.

“The December 31st (2020) issuance deadline didn’t really give us the opportunity to invest in the industries where you would need to get approval and construction and everything done in too short a time,” he said. “Now (we) have a little longer-term plan of what to do.”

Kidani said the real challenge is “working on a budget that is less than what we hoped for … to the best of our ability for the benefit of our community.”

“My first concern is that we take care of our community and get the vaccine out as soon as possible and now let our voters know when and where these vaccinations are happening,” she said.

Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English of Maui said the pandemic had made the legislature “much more accessible than in the past.”

The public is not expected to enter the Capitol for the remainder of the session, which is scheduled to end on April 29. For the first time, however, lawmakers will accept testimony about Zoom.

Earlier in the day, the public grandstand was unusually empty, security increased and the festive atmosphere of the past was noticeably lacking at the first Senate session of the year.

The changes reflected health, safety and budgetary concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as security concerns expressed in the wake of the January 6th violent riot at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC

Hilo Senator Laura Clint Acasio – who was appointed by Ige on Monday to fill the remaining two years of newly elected US MP Kai Kahele – struck the hammer and put the session in order.

One of Acasio’s ceremonial duties on the podium was to receive nominations for the President of the Legislature. Kouchi, the incumbent president, was the only candidate.

Senator Dru Kanuha of Kona was confirmed as majority chairman of the caucus and Sen. Lorraine Inouye of Hilo was named majority leader.

Oahu Senator Kurt Fevella, the only Republican in the Chamber, has been named minority leader and minority group leader.

Email John Burnett at [email protected].

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