UPDATED
Education, energy, construction, technology — those are among Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie‘s top priorities for 2012.
They also include reforming the state’s criminal justice system, protecting watersheds and making a settlement with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs over past-due ceded-land revenue.
Abercrombie’s 2012 State of the State address, was a stark contrast with last year’s, when the governor warned that Hawaii’s “canoe” was in danger of capsizing.
On Monday, the governor called for “leaving behind the drama of the recent past,” saying, “by working together and through shared sacrifice, we have started to turn the corner.”
But, pointing to projected a 3 percent decline in state revenue — a loss of $130 million — he also cautioned that a “daunting fiscal picture” could still emerge.
To “continue the economic momentum” achieved in the last year, the governor called for moving forward with $1 billion of capital improvement projects already on the books and another $300 million proposed in the administration’s supplemental budget.
“It is the public sector that must step up to invest in repairs and maintenance, construction projects and infrastructure improvements,” he said. “By aggressively putting these projects into action, we will ensure that job creation continues.”
Race to the Top
The governor also singled out education early in his speech by making direct reference to the still-unsettled contract between the state and the Hawaii State Teachers Association.
He said he would continue to press for a resolution and stressed that Hawaii’s stake in the federal Race to the Top grant must not be a casualty of the protracted labor dispute.
“Make no mistake we will cross that finish line. Our students deserve no less,” he said. “We will be using all management, administrative, legislative and legal tools we have at our disposal to implement an evaluation system that not only measures, but achieves student growth; turns around low-performing schools; and supports teachers in increasing their effectiveness.”
The governor also sought to capitalize on his administration’s efforts toward early childhood development.
“Early childhood education must be the initial step on the education ladder,” he said. “Failure to act now virtually ensures that our children will fall behind. If they are not our priority, then we no longer know the meaning of the word.”
Schatz To Lead Energy Efforts
Abercrombie will ask the Hawaii Legislature for $2.9 million to enhance the government’s online services, research transpacific fiber landing stations statewide and to initiate a program to provide laptop computers for every student.
Oversight of telecommunications will be transferred to the state’s Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, while Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz will coordinate energy priorities.
“The time of sustainability rhetoric is over,” said Abercrombie. “Bold action is needed now. We must address two critical issues to position ourselves for increasing use of alternative energy — reliability and infrastructure.”
That infrastructure, according to the governor, must include an undersea cable that connects island grids to provide reliable delivery of electricity.
Abercrombie also struck a conciliatory tone in his second State of the State, heaping praise on the Legislature, state workers and the general public for “weathering through” difficult choices.
He closed his address on a graceful note, one reflecting his intention to work more closely with the Legislature in attaining shared goals:
I want to close then with something that exemplifies what aloha for each other is all about. At one point when the way forward was not always clear, Representative Karen Awana gave me a note, the essence of which was “A’ohe Hana Nui Ke Alu ‘Ia” – no task is too big when done together by all. I keep it in my desk for those times when I can use a little reminder of the meaning of aloha for each other. Her kindness and goodness is truly aloha in every way.
UPDATE
Sticking To The Script
Abercrombie did not often stray far from his prepared remarks, which can be read here.
Compared with last year, the governor seemed more subdued and businesslike. The speech lacked the euphoria that fueled his first State of the State, and also the “day of reckoning” jeremiad. There were less jokes, too.
The 2011 speech, delivered less than three months after his landslide election, was well received. This time, after a year that saw poll numbers reveal that his popularity had dropped dramatically, the State of the State earned mostly polite applause and just a few standing ovations.
But, Abercrombie being Abercrombie, he did expand on several topics close to his heart, including Justice Reinvestment and sugary drinks.
Abercrombie, a former parole officer, rejected criticism from people like Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro, who has expressed his worry that Justice Reinvestment, a data-driven reform of the criminal justice system involving reduced prison time but extended probation, will endanger public safety. The governor said “JRI,” as it’s called, will do the opposite: bring families together and make communities safer.
He also called for a task force to study the impact of sodas on diet. “The fact remains that the link between sugar-sweetened beverages and health is undeniable,” he argued.Â
Asked at a press conference later about his views on sugary drinks, Abercrombie said he did not think a tax on sodas would have legislative support this session.
The governor was also asked about his ship-of-state metaphor, which he did not mention in this year’s address.
The canoe, he responded, was stable and heading toward land.
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About the Author
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Chad Blair is the politics editor for Civil Beat. You can reach him by email at cblair@civilbeat.org or follow him on Twitter at .