CIVIC CORNER

Rainy Day Fund

State lawmakers and the Lingle administration seem positioned to divert $50 million from the state's "rainy day fund" to buy back some of the scheduled furlough days on which schools will be closed. But this week social services providers — who also are victims of the current budget woes — have raised concerns that this would leave very little to offset reductions in allotments for services to the needy and the elderly. The Legislature will need to convene in special session to enact the appropriation from the special fund in the coming weeks, and in the regular session will confront the challenge of reshaping government to do more with less tax money. What do you think?

GET INVOLVED
Contact your public officials to make your views known:

Colleen Hanabusa: Sen. Hanabusa is president of the state Senate, which would help decide the use of funds.

Reach her at: senhanabusa@capitol.hawaii.gov or 586-7793.



Calvin Say: Rep. Say is speaker of the state House of Representatives. He also is among the leaders considering the special session on the issue.

Reach him at: repsay@capitol.hawaii.gov or 586-6100.



Linda Lingle: The governor will join in the discussion over the use of "rainy day" funds for emergency uses.

Reach her at: governor.lingle@hawaii.gov or 586-0034.

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