University of Hawai'i applauds Governor's support in executive budget
News Release from University of Hawaiʻi Dec 18, 2013 (With explanatory notes added to enhance accuracy.)
 (One of the buildings Mitsunaga will fix. Ca-ching!)
The University of Hawai'i Board of Regents and administration praised the State of Hawai’i executive budget released Monday and thanked Governor Neil Abercrombie for his support of public higher education for students throughout the state. (Translation: Inouye's cronies are out, Abercrombie's are in.)
Board of Regents Chairman John Holzman said, “The governor's proposed budget demonstrates his strong commitment to public higher education in Hawai'i. If passed, it will allow the university to address the urgent need to substantially reduce a $487 million backlog of deferred maintenance (contracts to be awarded to Abercrombie's Mitsunaga). “
The executive budget supports the board's requests for $14 million to restore the salaries of UH faculty to pre-recession levels and $19.5 million for the modest negotiated 3 percent faculty pay raises in the current biennium. (This was the money Abercrombie previously withheld in order to force out Inouye's Greenwood.) The requested funds will enable the university to free up student tuition to invest in improvements on all UH campuses. (Translation: No tuition cuts, that money's going to Mitsunaga, not students.)
Interim UH President David Lassner also praised Abercrombie and state Budget Director Kalbert Young for entering into this partnership with the university (installing Abercrombie cronies in top positions). “The executive budget represents a huge step toward financial sustainability for (campaign contributions from) the university. If supported by the State Legislature, this will enable the restoration of (their campaign contributions, while Mitsunaga builds) classrooms, labs and infrastructure to provide 21st century educational facilities, programs and support that enrich students’ (cronies) lives and communities across the state.”
The executive budget also supports the board's capital improvement requests for construction of the College of Pharmacy building at UH-Hilo and the renovation of Kuykendall Hall at UH-Manoa, as well as the board's operating budget requests for investment in outcomes-based funding for community colleges, systemwide educational innovation, implementation of the Hawaii Innovation Initiative (HI2), and support for systemwide Native Hawaiian initiatives. (Laissez les bon temps rouler!)
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