Seven Democrats Apply To Replace Kahele At Legislature - Honolulu Civil Beat
They include Big Island such notables as Chris Todd, Wil Okabe, Amy Kalili and “Fresh” Onishi. Reading time: 2 minutes.
The Democratic Party of Hawaii on Sunday announced the names of seven applicants hoping to replace Kai Kahele at the Capitol.
The former state senator representing Hilo resigned last week in advance of his swearing in to Congress in January.
The applicants who fulfilled “prescribed legal requirements” are as follows: Laura Acacio, Jennifer Kagiwada, Amy Kalili, Wil Okabe, Dennis “Fresh” Onishi, Maureen Namaka Rawlins and Chris Toshiro Todd.
The Hawaii Senate chamber. Cory Lum/Civil Beat
Hawaii Gov. David Ige: There s No Money To Sustain Government As It Existed - Honolulu Civil Beat
The governor, anticipating a slow economic recovery, likely will present lawmakers with a much-reduced conservative spending plan. Reading time: 8 minutes.
Gov. David Ige is expected to unveil his next two-year budget proposal on Monday and it seems likely there will be something for everyone to hate.
Ige has already announced plans for twice-a-month furloughs for 10,160 state workers starting next month, and warned that state worker layoffs will also be necessary to cope with the gigantic state budget crisis triggered by the pandemic.
As bad as that may sound, it is just the beginning.
mtanji@mauinews.com
Hawaii’s 13,000-member teachers’ union has filed a complaint over the “unilateral imposition” of furloughs that are scheduled to start for public school employees on Jan. 4.
The prohibited practice complaint filed by the Hawaii State Teachers Association with the Hawaii Labor Relations Board says that the state does not have the authority to impose furloughs without bargaining, since HSTA has a contract in place until June 30, 2021.
“Collective bargaining is enshrined in Hawaii’s constitution, and contracts cannot be dismissed when the governor considers them inconvenient. Otherwise, why have a contract?” HSTA President Corey Rosenlee said in a news release Friday evening. “If these illegal furloughs are implemented, Gov. Ige would be the third governor in a row to cut teacher pay. Such a move would be bad for education, worsen Hawaii’s teacher shortage crisis and ultimately hurt our keiki.”
Updated 12/16/20, 1:21 p.m.
The state Department of Health reported 110 new cases and four fatalities today.
According to the state s numbers, Oʻahu had 85 new cases, Maui 14, Hawaiʻi County 5, Kauaʻi, Lanai and Molokaʻi had none.
The latest state counts bring the Oʻahu total to 16,543, Hawaiʻi County 1,748, Maui 728, Kauaʻi 134, Lanai 106 and Molokaʻi 22. The number of out-of-state cases totals 309.
Since the pandemic began, the state has tallied 19,590 cases. The death toll stands at 278.
Department of Education furloughs start on Jan. 4
January 4 will be the first day of furloughs for employees of the state Department of Educatoin.
Hawaii teachers face furloughs as pandemic hits tax revenue
By AUDREY McAVOYDecember 16, 2020 GMT
HONOLULU (AP) The Hawaii state Department of Education plans to furlough public school teachers a total of six days through June as part of Gov. David Ige’s effort to cut spending to cope with a pandemic-induced plunge in state tax revenue.
Superintendent Christina Kishimoto outlined the plan to staff in a memo emailed late Monday. Ige had announced furlough plans for other state workers last week.
The first furlough day for teachers would be Jan. 4, which had previously been scheduled as a teacher work day when students would not be in school.