Funds for Kula ambulance service supported in Senate

Letter to the Editor
The Maui News
April 10, 2002

Your April 1 editorial regarding ambulance service for Kula was appreciated, but may have left your readers with a misperception. Actually, the Senate supports the funding which was deleted by our colleagues in the House.

The way the budget is deliberated here at the Capitol, the governor submits the budget proposal, which is then referred to the House for consideration. After the House makes its recommended changes, the measure is forwarded to the Senate. That’s where we are now. In the final steps, the House and Senate convene in conference and the final form of the budget is agreed upon. That’s the critical time to focus our efforts.

The funding for the extended hours of Kula ambulance service was originally inserted into the budget by the Senate last year and was included in the governor’s budget proposal this year. It was deleted in the House version of the budget bill that crossed over to the Senate. The Senate Ways and Means Committee has completed reviewing the House version of the budget and has reinstated funding for extended ambulance service for Kula. Now the House needs to support the Senate’s provision.

Maui’s elected officials have all worked together and consistently supported state funding for this essential service. Last year I successfully advocated for that funding as a member of the Ways and Means Committee. We again have support in the Senate to secure the additional funding for extended ambulance services for residents from Kula to Kaupo. Hopefully our colleagues in the House will be able to garner enough support for our position to prevail in conference.

J. Kalani English
Senate Majority Floor Leader
5th Senatorial District

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