Governor Linda Lingle, quoted in a story in today’s Honolulu Star-Bulletin:
“It puts the Legislature in a very difficult position next session,” Lingle said, “because if that arbitrator comes up with a settlement — whether I agree to it or not — I have to submit it to the Legislature and then they will be put in a position, in an election year, of having to raise taxes in order to pay for this binding arbitration settlement.“
This seems to cut to the heart of the matter. Both the governor and the legislature know that getting through this current recession with the least long-term damage will require another tax increase, most likely via the general excise tax, since a big chunk of that is paid by visitors.
But each wants to be able to blame the other for pushing ahead with the tax hike.
Lingle, at least in this isolated quote, sounds like she might want the arbitrator to take the union position so that she can disclaim any responsibility while putting the tax issue directly in front of the legislature. As she says, in an election year, no less.
It’s a familiar political game of musical chairs, in which the one without a seat when the music stops is stuck calling for a tax boost.
It’s Sunday, I’m a bit slow today, so I’ll let it go to the dogs. Kaaawa Morning Dogs, that is.
There are some new faces in this photo gallery. This is Skate, who lives at the other end of our little road. Click on his picture to see today’s whole batch.
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Isn’t the governor required to submit a balanced budget to the legislature? This would mean that, say, the arbitrator’s decision costs $100 million, then the governor would have to include this cost item into her budget proposal.
She can’t submit a budget that is $100 million out of whack and then tell the legislature to go raise taxes to fill the hole.
She wont. She’ll go for the next round of cuts to balance it – and then let ‘um figure it out.
Charles – tell me – call me young and dumb – but WHY why why arent ‘they’ cutting the deal already? WHY put these poor employees and their families through this torture?
hipoli, call me old and dumb but for all we know the “deal” is being cut as we speak.
Remember that each union (and each bargaining unit, for that matter) have different processes whether it’s by binding arbitration, going on strike, etc.
As stressful as it is for all concerned, I would think that the process is important as well. That is, I suppose a corporation could just say that 1000 workers will be let go and within 48 hours, they are gone but government doesn’t quite work like that especially if there is a union involved.
Due process, due diligence and fairness tends to drive the outcome. But it all takes a heckuva lot of time; hence, the stress and anxiety.
Theres a process? Really? Because Im not seeing one. I see hard heads and egos, but fairness and due diligence? Where, please? No, Im serious. IF there was a clear process that was communicated and that we all understood (ie. a calendar, agendas, minutes – something!), then, ok, going through that process takes this kind of time. But thats not whats being explained to the public. All we are told is ‘we are meeting’. What is this process that this should take so long? To me, not to simplify, but its a lot like a bill. We go through the motions of 5 months of a process – and alot of b.s. and grandstanding – when the reality is – most of them can be and are settled in a blink of an eye. They need to hurry it up already – this is just cruel to do to State workers.
Not if the outcome ends up being better than what would be decided, no, forced through, by the Lingle administration if the unions did not stand up for the workers’ right to proper procedure.
What’s cruel about working? The best thing to do is to let the unions do the job and not worry about it … that’s their job. The process may take 5 months, 10 months, a year … in that time you are still employed and earning money.
You can always end the “cruelty” yourself by quitting if it’s such a burden.