Democrats contend Lingle twisted facts in talk to chamber

The Maui News
Sunday, August 15, 2004

By ILIMA LOOMIS, Staff Writer

WAILUKU - Gov. Linda Lingle's characterization of legislators in a speech before the Maui Chamber of Commerce on Friday was "partisan," "disingenuous" and "shocking" according to two Democratic Maui lawmakers.

State Sens. Roz Baker and J. Kalani English, who attended the chamber luncheon, complained that Lingle twisted the facts to make legislators - particularly Democratic legislators - look bad.

"It was not correct," Baker said. "I don't know if she was intending it to be disingenuous. It was a very partisan speech for an audience that had both Democrats and Republicans."

She objected to a statement by Lingle that "the Legislature is not required by law to balance the budget, and they don't." Baker said that simply wasn't true.

"When we adjourned (the 2004 legislative session), we had a balanced budget that we sent to her, and she signed it," Baker said. "She did not veto the budget."

The Legislature's budget was based on the most current revenue projections at the time from the state Council on Revenues, she said. Those projections might have changed later, after the budget deadline.

"I don't see how she can blame us for not being able to see into the future and see what the Council (on Revenues) is going to do," Baker said.

Baker was also miffed that Lingle had accused the Legislature of "raids on highway special funds" and suggested the raids could have cost the state federal matching funds.

Baker said the Legislature only tapped surplus highway funds, money that was over and above what had been slated for highway projects and matching federal funds. The "raid" did not have any adverse impact on present or future highway projects, she said.

"We did pull some money out of the highway fund, but we did not keep any project from moving forward, and we did not lose any matching federal funds," Baker said.

At the same time, the governor called on the Legislature to approve "a whole series of other raids, much greater raids than we did," English said.

He added that Lingle has transferred money out of special funds when the Legislature was not in session.

"You cannot call the kettle black," he said.

Both lawmakers said Lingle needed to accept that the Legislature would remain independent of her control.

"Basically what she's upset about is the Legislature didn't rubber-stamp what she sent down to us," Baker said. "She's saying, 'You guys aren't doing what the voters wanted.' Well, we were all elected as well."

"There's a very deep contempt for our Constitution, in that we have a separation of powers (between the executive and legislative branches of government), and she just doesn't want to deal with that," English said.

At the same time, he said he felt Lingle's speech wouldn't be damaging to Democrats.

"One thing's for certain, we're in an election year," he said.

Ilima Loomis can be reached at iloomis@mauinews.com.

Copyright © 2003 — The Maui News

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