Hawaii lawmakers amend bills in response to governor request
Associated Press 9 hrs ago By AUDREY McAVOY, Associated Press
HONOLULU (AP) Hawaii lawmakers on Thursday passed amendments to several bills as requested by Gov. David Ige, including one that uses general funds to repay debt instead of federal COVID-19 relief funds.
Democratic Rep. Sylvia Luke, the chair of the House Finance Committee, explained that lawmakers and the Ige administration had agreed during the spring legislative session to use the relief money to repay debt, as originally outlined in HB 54. But then the U.S. Treasury Department issued guidance the day after lawmakers adjourned saying they money could not be used for that purpose.
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HONOLULU State lawmakers on Thursday passed amendments to several bills as requested by Gov. David Ige, including one that uses general funds to repay debt instead of federal COVID-19 relief funds.
Democratic Rep. Sylvia Luke, the chair of the House Finance Committee, explained that lawmakers and the Ige administration had agreed during the spring legislative session to use the relief money to repay debt, as originally outlined in HB 54. But then the U.S. Treasury Department issued guidance the day after lawmakers adjourned saying the money could not be used for that purpose.
Ige, a Democrat, vetoed the measure as a result, sending it back to lawmakers.
Hawaii s amended budget heeds Treasury guidance on relief funds bondbuyer.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bondbuyer.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.