Senator David Ige responds to Governor Neil Abercrombie’s State of the State Address

News Release from Ige for Governor January 21, 2014

Today the governor provided his roadmap for the 2014 legislative session in his State of the State speech, however there are many concerns that were not addressed and questions remaining about his plan for the future of Hawaii.  It is not right to make promises that cannot be kept and proposals that are not fiscally sustainable.  In contrast to the governor’s remarks made today about the states financial future, his tax department announced a few days ago that tax revenues are down -.7% from last year.

I am disappointed that growing the state’s economy is not a priority of the governor.  I believe that economic diversity, job creation and plans for expansion of our tourism industry are critical priorities.

In the past three years, I have worked with my colleagues in the legislature to make tough decisions to build a responsible financial plan.  The $844 million surplus is a direct result of the nearly $800 million in cuts that the legislature has made from the governor’s proposed budgets during his tenure. We must address the unfunded liabilities of public employees before we can truly begin talking about a surplus in the budget.

As we begin this legislative session, I am committed to working with my house counterparts and the administration to build a responsible state budget.  I am concerned about the direction in which our state is heading, and will work hard to make sure that we are setting the right path for a sustainable fiscal future while improving the quality of life here in Hawaii for future generations.

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Related: Full Text: State of the State Address