2005 Legislative Summary
2005 Legislative Session Successes
Working with the legislature and community, the Lingle-Aiona Administration achieved progress in terms of increasing affordable housing, enhancing traffic safety, supporting early childhood education and charter schools, granting more autonomy to the University of Hawai`i, battling crime and sustaining integrity in government.
The following pages detail these successes within 5 categories outlined in the Administration’s 2005 Initiative booklet: Lowering the Cost of Living, Keeping Residents and Visitors Safe, Helping Keiki and Kupuna, Sustaining Integrity in Government, and Investing in Hawai`i’s Future.
Hawai`i’s Robust Economy
Amidst the backdrop of the 2005 Legislative Session, Hawai`i’s economy has continued to grow. The tourism and construction industry are booming, personal income is up, bankruptcies are at a record low, and consumer and business confidence levels are at all-time highs.
According to the Bank of Hawai`i Business Confidence Survey released in March, confidence among local businesses in Hawai`i’s booming economy remains at record levels, with 58.8% expecting somewhat or much higher performance for the state’s economy during the next year. As Paul Brewbaker, Bank of Hawai`i’s chief economist, said “Business owners’ confidence in the local economy remains at peak levels.”
Moreover, Hawai`i continues to enjoy the lowest unemployment rate in the nation at 2.9% and is the only state to have a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate that's below 3 percent. In comparison, the national rate is 5.2 percent.
"Our economy is strong and you see that reflected in our employment numbers," said Nelson Befitel, the state's labor director. "It's an employee's market, which is great news to those graduating from college and high school this month."
Expanding Asia-Pacific Opportunities
Building on this thriving economy, the Lingle-Aiona Administration continues to expand Hawai`i’s business and economic opportunities in Asia. In June 2005, Governor Lingle will lead more than 40 businesses, University of Hawai`i officials, and legislators on a mission to China and Korea with a focus on six interrelated tracks: government, business, education, tourism, architectural and tourism development services, technology, and culture and the arts. Most notably, Hawai`i will become the second American state granted a tourism and trade office in China.
2006 Legislative Session Forecast
The Administration’s success in the 2005 legislative session coupled with Hawai`i’s impressive economy and leading role in the Asia-Pacific region casts a bright light of optimism for the future.
However, as Governor Lingle said in her 2005 State of the State address, “We cannot let the sparkle of economic vitality blind us to the needs of thousands of our fellow citizens across the state. Finding ways to ease the impact of the increased cost of living should be one of the first orders of business during this session. Ignoring this problem is ignoring the obvious. And the obvious will not just go away.”
The Administration’s commitment to helping those who need it most has not gone away. In the 2006 Legislative Session, the Lingle-Aiona Administration will again focus on providing tax relief to the lowest wage earners and increasing affordable housing as a dual approach to decrease homelessness and increase the quality of life for all.
- Keeping Residents and Visitors Safe
