Donna Mercado Kim Bulletin
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Alewa Heights Kalihi DISTRICT Kalihi Valley Moanalua Gardens 14 Moanalua Valley Kapalama community Red Hill Halawa Heights Volume 37, No. 1 Aiea bulletin Spring 2020 Aloha, Friends and Neighbors he 2020 session of the Legislature convened on LEGISLATION Quality Education. Legislation will target TJanuary 15, and we can anticipate the usual mix I have introduced several proposals to promote teacher recruitment and retention, strengthen civic of debate, controversy, and accomplishment over transparency and effi ciency at the University of education, increase revenue sources to support sec- the direction of our government and future of our Hawaii; strengthen protection for our kupuna; ap- ondary education, and expand career and technical state during the coming weeks. prove sports betting in Hawaii; and allow the use learning opportunities for the workforce. We’re already very busy reviewing proposals car- of campaign funds to pay for certain child care Work and Economic Growth. Senators will ried over from last year, such as the proposal to raise expenses. back bills to promote sustainable economic growth, the minimum wage, plus the governor’s request These measures are described in more detail job creation and workforce development, innova- for additional budget money and new proposals on this page. tion, and business plans to invest in the state’s future. proffered by legislators. Reduced Inequalities. Raising the minimum NATIONAL LEADERSHIP wage will be high among the senators’ priorities, COMMITTEES In November, I was named chair of the National along with requiring paid family leave and creating I have the same three committee responsibilities Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL), a a retirement savings program. this year: chair of the Committee on non-partisan, non-profi t educational organization Sustainable Cities and Communities. The Leg- Higher Education, which has oversight over the for elected women serving in the state, county, and islature will seek to expand the inventory of afford- University of Hawaii; vice chair of the Committee municipal governments. able and transitional housing, reduce homelessness, on Education, a body that scrutinizes legislation I’ve been a member of NFWL since 2013 increase local food production, protect agricultural affecting our public schools and libraries; and and look forward to achieving the founda- lands, and invest in transportation modernization. membership on the Judiciary Committee, which tion’s mission of empowering and inspiring Climate Action. Proposals in this arena will tar- examines a host of bills on myriad topics. women to become thoughtful leaders who get carbon neutrality, ocean conservation, sustain- The former two committees will review shape America’s future. able land use, and watershed protection. educational spending proposals, including those Peace, Justice, Strong Institutions. Legisla- proposed by the executive branch. tors will explore ways to restructure government, increase Hawaii’s presence at the international level, BUDGET enhance public safety, improve social services, ex- In that regard, the Ige administration has pand the sister-state program, and support the state submitted a supplemental budget request to add archives. to the biennium appropriation the Legislature Partnerships. Achieving the UN goals will approved last year. He is asking for $62.5 million require effective public, private, and civic partner- for the forthcoming fi scal year and another $429 ships, establishing a cohesive policy for sustainable million for the following year. I should point development, and balancing sustainable develop- out that these are requests for the Legislature to ment with economic goals. approve spending, no matter what the source of the money. SENATOR’S PRIORITIES The proposal includes $41 million for extra Senator Kim is introducing a number of mea- compensation for classroom teacher shortage salary sures covering a range of topics. Among them: differentials; another $19 million for the expansion 2020 ALL-MAIL ELECTIONS University Transparency. Several bills will seek of the Hawaii Promise scholarships for all Univer- We will be having an election this year, with to promote transparency and effi ciency at the Uni- sity of Hawaii campuses; and an additional $220 numerous seats at stake in the Legislature, county versity of Hawaii. She will introduce a bill requiring million in construction for public schools and $87 mayors and councils, and Congress. the Board of Regents to live-stream their meetings million in improvements for the UH campuses. This will also be the fi rst year we will have all- and have the recordings available for future viewing. The executive branch wants $20 million mail voting, meaning you will receive your primary Sports Betting. A Kim measure would create a more for public housing and $2.5 million election and general election ballots in the mail, task force to examine and make recommendations for the preparation costs for the School Street with only a few polling stations open. on the feasibility of sports gambling in the islands. redevelopment. This is a significant change, which we’ve Campaign Spending. The senator will propose State agencies are seeking $20 million for infra- explained in detail elsewhere in the Commu- that political campaign funds be allowed to pay for structure construction for the Royal Kunia Agricul- nity Bulletin. Our voting participation is very childcare costs for candidates while they are cam- tural Park; funding for positions in the industrial poor, among the poorest in the nation with less paigning, under certain conditions. hemp effort; and $700,000 for the rapid ohia death than half the eligible voters casting ballots. Sev- Elder Center. She will propose that the Uni- response. eral years ago, I introduced legislation calling for versity of Hawaii convert the Charles Atherton The H-1 Freeway, from Waikele to Halawa, all-mail voting. It took several years to garner YMCA in Manoa to a Kupuna Health, Wellness, would be widened if the Legislature okays $200 enough support for the Legislature to approve and Innovation Center that would ideally include million in revenue bonds. a test for Kauai. But the idea has gained traction an intergenerational lifelong learning retirement Governor Ige is also seeking $30 million for the and it was okayed for statewide elections be- and assisted-living facility to be integrated with the Veteran’s Administration long-term care facility on ginning this year. Let’s hope this new system school’s Center on Aging, schools of Nursing and Oahu, more security positions at Maui Community will improve participation in our democracy. Social Work, and other units, including the John A. Correction Center, and $1.5 million for the Kupuna As always, I encourage you to keep me Burns School of Medicine’s Geriatrics Department Caregivers program, which I’ve supported from its apprised of your ideas and thoughts as the and Offi ce of Public Health Studies. inception. session progresses. Iolani Palace and Bishop Museum. As the only palace on American soil and an important histori- HIGHER EDUCATION SENATE MAJORITY OUTLINES cal repository, Senator Kim will propose dedicated The Higher Education and Ways and Means com- KEY THEMES funding for these two institutions to ensure ad- mittees held public hearings on the University of The Senate’s Democratic majority has adopted equate their operation and preservation, to come Hawaii in December and January, with testimony its legislative platform for the 2020 session, with a from hotel room tax revenues. leaving us with more questions than answers about continued focus on the United Nations’ “Sustain- the direction of the campuses and the Board of Re- able Development Goals” adopted previously. gents’ oversight of the institution. (See “Hot Seat” Priorities for legislation will follow these Mahalo for your support, on page 3 for more details.) themes. You can expect a continuation of our review Good Health and Well-being. The Legislature into the university during the session. will promote health and well-being for all ages by improving access to health care, reducing youth Donna Mercado Kim vaping, and fi nding new uses for underused state Senator, 14th District facilities. community surveyy2019 LEGISLATURE Community Survey 2019 Senator Kim is seeking your input on legislation that may be considered during this session of the Legislature, as well as on other issues. e results will be published in the next edition of the Community Bulletin. Should Hawaii join the list of states voter registration. This translates into AUTONOMOUS offering some form of sports bet- improved access to voting, enhanced VAPING ting? election security, and savings on re- VEHICLES sources that would have been used Last October, the Health Department Autonomous vehicles, or self-driving _____ Yes in traditional paper registration and issued an advisory urging anyone cars, are being refi ned and tested in _____ No postage. who vapes to stop immediately until growing numbers. The technology is more is known about why people advancing so rapidly that these vehi- If adopted, where would you like the Would you support automatic voter across the country who use vaping cles could be available to motorists in proceeds to go to, e.g., education, registration? devices are getting gravely sick and the next six to 10 years. Twenty-two housing/homeless, etc. even dying. The state investigated _____ Yes nearly a dozen vaping-linked lung other states have adopted autono- ____________________________ _____ No mous vehicle legislation. In order illnesses last year. Nationally, there for Hawaii to be in the forefront and have been more than 2,100 reports attract this type of business, we need of serious lung illnesses linked to to have our laws amended so road BULKY ITEM PICKUP PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE vaping, and 42 people have died so far. Health offi cials suspect vitamin E testing can proceed. Tests show that The City and County of Honolulu has The graying of many of our physi- driverless vehicles are safer and have switched from scheduled, monthly, acetate as a possible culprit behind cians, our high cost of living, hous- the vaping-related illnesses.