Math problem:  $844M deficit + $728.6M new spending = $1.5726 Billion dollars in new taxes, fees, and/or costs to government employees and retirees.  Cost of Abercrombie: Over $1000 per person in Hawaii.  Quick solution.  Don’t increase spending. Abercrombie’s solution: Blame Lingle—which he did repeatedly during his news conference, all the while denying that he was blaming Lingle.  

REALITY:  Abercrombie: GE Tax hike will be People's Will, People’s Pulse: 68% oppose GE Tax hike 

News Release: Questions about the Abercrombie Budget Plan

News Release: "Changing Our Ways," Governor Abercrombie's Announcement of the Executive Branch Budget, Feb. 21, 2011   

News Release: Abercrombie budget restores government functions

FULL TEXT should be posted here: http://hawaii.gov/gov

COVERAGE

SA: Abercrombie budget proposal would increase spending

The budget calls for $11.4 billion in spending for fiscal year 2012, up $490.8 million from the $10.8 billion draft the governor initially proposed in December, and $11.3 billion in spending for fiscal year 2013, up $237.8 million from the $11 billion proposed in December. The proposal is a 5 percent increase in fiscal year 2012 and a 2 percent increase in fiscal year 2013.

HNN: Governor unveils $22.7 billion biennium budget

The operating budget breaks down to $11.4 billion in fiscal year 2012 and $11.3 billion in 2013 -- $22.7 billion overall.

It's up about seven percent in spending over what Gov. Linda Lingle called for.

State Budget and Finance director Kalbert Young said following the plan will eliminate an $844 million deficit.

"We will be out of the deficit in FY 12 and 13 with a little bit of room to spare," he said.

Abercrombie said his budget invests $2.7 billion into capital improvement projects to accelerate economic recovery. He said it also restores basic services to government agencies without growing government.

HNN: Non-profits hit hard by state budget cuts

HR:Abercrombie Unveils Budget, Renews Call for Structural Changes

CB: Abercrombie Proposes Raising Spending On Operations, Construction

CB: Budget 101 With Prof. Abercrombie

Abercrombie distributed three handouts at the news conference. Here are two of them. 

We will post the full text of the budget--and Abercrombie’s 69 page handout titled “Budget in Balance”--as soon as we get our hands on them.