The governor takes flight
By David Shapiro
I could only roll my eyes when I read that Gov. Linda Lingle decided this would be a swell time to disappear for two weeks on a promotional trip to China.
Nothing much going on here. Just a budget deficit at $1 billion and growing, a parent revolt over Friday school closings, a Senate probe and impending federal court hearing on the schools, unresolved contract talks with state blue-collar workers and University of Hawai'i professors.
It's like Déjà vu to a year ago, when the governor spent most of her time on the John McCain campaign plane just as the state's economy was starting to go seriously south.
Lingle says the economy dictates that she promote energy development, business ties and tourism in the world's most important emerging nation.
Well, if the trip that must have been long in the planning was so compelling, why wait until two days before she left to announce it? Perhaps because she wanted to be safely on the airplane when the flak about her judgment started flying?
The guess here is that this trip is as much about padding Lingle's post-gubernatorial résumé as promoting Hawai'i.
Republican Chairman Jonah Kaauwai, in an Advertiser letter to the editor ironically defending one of my columns, criticized Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann for traveling in Asia while the HGEA negotiations were coming to a head. What cuts one way cuts the other way, too.
I hope Lingle's absence doesn't mean the administration will blow off the state Senate's special committee on school furloughs, which could actually be useful if members focus on fixing the problem instead of fixing the blame.
Senate President Colleen Hanabusa is absolutely right that there's no point in calling a special session of the Legislature without a specific plan to reopen schools on Fridays that all parties buy into — and at this point, there aren't even the beginnings of such a plan.
But with the Legislature removed from the heat of battle so far, the special committee could be in a position to broker a deal in which all sides give a little to get the lost instruction days restored in a way everybody can live with.
The key is that everybody is going to have to yield some ground to make it happen, and to be effective lawmakers must be even-handed and willing to lean on their friends in the HSTA and on the Board of Education as well as their adversaries in the Lingle administration.
If this turns into more of those hearings where senators do little more than play to the gallery and hurl insults at administration functionaries, which no doubt will be tempting given Lingle's untimely absence, it'll be a waste of everybody's time.
Volcanic Ash
October 29th, 2009 at 9:40 am
the gov is on trade mission to china.this will give future gov mufi two weeks of unfettered attention to the voters of hawaii.can't wait for the invitation to the gov's hieva.
October 29th, 2009 at 10:29 am
There is nothing wrong with the gov's timing to travel to China. She will be looking to garner more Chinese visitors to Hawaii which should help our economy in the coming years. All the contracts, except UHPA and UPW are done and those will likely end up in arbitration in Dec. No special session - too close to the regular session, and if only for the teachers, does not make sense - need to look at the bigger picture.
Everytime a politician goes on a trip, folks always grumble that they are doing it for personal reasons rather than in their professional capacity. It might be somewhat true in this case, but attempt to increase Chinese tourism to Hawaii is a very important and noble gesture.
Another manini view without substance.
October 29th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Dave:
Linda No's absence & the Senate committee hearing presents a good opportunity for all the Lt. Gov. candidates (Norman Sakamoto & Bobby Bunda who did not sign Will Espero's Special Session petition, Gary Hooser, "former educator" Lyla Berg, Jon-Riki Karamatsu, Rod Tam, Donavan DelaCruz, Brian Schatz) and the present Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona to come up with ideas -- otherwise we're kinda getting the picture about the uselessness of the post and the calibre of the candidates for the post. Good (somewhat) talk. No action.
If Duke is really "acting Governor" when Linda No is out of town, here's his chance to do something meaningful than proposing to take away my beer at Aloha Stadium during UH football games (it's consolation for the quality of the present injury ridden, snake bitten team).
October 29th, 2009 at 10:32 am
ahem, I meant:
"If Duke is really "acting Governor" when Linda No is out of town, here's his chance to do something *more* meaningful than proposing to take away my beer at Aloha Stadium during UH football games (it's consolation for the quality of the present injury ridden, snake bitten team)."
October 29th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Agree #2. She's a lame duck, right? That what Dave and other libs echo here often. She's doing something to assist the state. What more do you want? It's been 12 months since the Palin parade, get over it.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Aloha ~
Glad to hear our Governor is getting around. We can use all the help we can get. Wish her the best and hope many new doors open ...
I'm also happy she's out of the way. This is an opportunity to get some work done. The education challenges remain. Do we focus on her absence or our kuleana to our keiki?
Ms. Hanabusa ducks a special session because nobody has a plan.
We have a moment before us, a crisis, which offers any leader -- of many seeking the next gov or lt gov role -- to demonstrate leadership.
Hesitation is not a solution. David offered a proposal; others have. Where are the leaders now? Who will restore the class time for our keiki?
A*L*O*H*A
October 29th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
My guess is that Linda is making some kind of deal with the Chinese offering our children as personal servants/concierge to their elite for the next 20 years at below minimum wages. Being as our keiki wont have any education per se....or prospects anywhere else in the world now that the whole world knows we have the worst education policy in the world (if any policy at all) !
God forbid Duke try to do anything...he would just make the whole situation worse...the best thing he could do for us is go to church and pray.
Our only hope is that sitting Democrats know how vulnrable they are and are willing to stand up to her. I know that if they do not get our school days back, every politician at the capitol will feel the wrath of the mother!
October 29th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Are you serious, Dave? In today's global financial crisis/environment why wouldn't the states' CEO accept invitations to major events from leaders in world's largest emerging market? I heard and read there are conferences and other events which take place the next two weeks. Are you suggesting she ask them to change dates? And, in today's tech-savy world, the Governor could be in Maui, Waianae, the North Shore, up at the TMT or Kauai and yes, China while still be in touch daily via BB, phone and the internet...remember that one...the one you write a blog for?
Finally, are you such a vitriolic blogger for the D's that when "my way Mufi" or others travel there is no mention of their trips. Didn't the money chair of the Senate go to the Philippines for cosmetic work when the budget crisis was in full bloom or the Speaker traveling going to China a couple of weeks after the Governor which coincides with the Obama's visit??? I will bet you won't ever mention them in your blog-col. I want a CEO who shows leadership with the issues which will help my kids and grandkids, not just sit around and contemplate "oh, whoa is me." Did you hear "my way-Mufi" tonight? He blames everyone except himself. But you didn't attack him when he was in Japan and the West Coast promoting himself, I mean the tourism? I am so disappointed in you and the paper! 'Nuff said.
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:31 am
Do your eyes roll when the Obama-nator takes all of his jaunts around the world, when there are so many important decisions to be made on a national basis? If not, ask why not? Double standard maybe?
Aloha,
Keahi
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Nikki Heat - Bobby Bunda did sign Espero's special session petition. Sakamoto did not but has been out of town.