Ending Furlough Fridays A Must

by Rep Lynn Finnegan (R-Aiea, Pearl City) – Thursday, March 25, 2010

Today the House Finance Committee will be hearing a bill (SB 2124 SD2) that appropriates $86.1 M to end Furlough Fridays. Representative Finnegan will be offering an amendment to Finance Chair Marcus Oshiro, reflecting her proposal to decrease the appropriation to $77.5 M.

“We can refrain from raising taxes and get students back in school,” said Minority Leader Lynn Finnegan.

The HSTA and other unions visited the State Capitol to convince State legislators to raise the general excise tax (G.E.T.). Representative Finnegan suggests a fair, logical, and responsible compromise to the two plans currently being proposed. In comparing the Governor and HSTA-BOE-DOE’s proposals to end Furlough Fridays, there are two main differences: $30 million dollars, and which employees to bring back work.

Currently, the State faces a $1.2 billion budget shortfall. Governor Lingle already stated she would not release the $92 million necessary to fund the union’s proposal. “I recognize that both proposals have positive elements.  My compromise solution incorporates elements from each of the plans.”

Representative Finnegan proposes the following:

· Support HSTA’s suggested appropriations for restoration of the remaining 4 days this school year and 11 school days next year.

· Support HSTA’s conversion of 6 non-instructional days (currently teacher work days, teacher institute days, and planning days) to instructional days

· Support Governor’s suggestion to bring back only essential personnel for the 15 days.

· Support Governor’s suggestion that non-essential workers remain on existing furlough collective bargaining agreements.

“The 4.4% pay cut represents teachers’ contribution to balancing the budget and ensuring that our keiki are able to return to the classroom,” stated Finnegan.

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