The governor sat down for extended interviews with reporters Thursday, marking the midpoint of the legislative session as one of many barometers by which he’s measuring change.
Out of hundreds of measures that survived crossover to the other chamber, a significant point on the legislative calendar, 14 bills and one resolution the governor’s administration proposed are still alive.
"Perhaps more bills moving forward than has happened in a long long time, in any administration," says Abercrombie.
Among them funds for early childhood education, an OHA settlement involving Kakaako makai land, regulations for an interisland energy cable, and the justice reinvestment initiative that would be substantial changes to how many are incarcerated and where.
Besides the legislative front, the governor says the economy is continuing to show gains, the latest being the Council on Revenues uptick in its tax revenue forecast.
"Because we all pulled together, because we were all in that canoe that I talk about and paddled together, well it looks like it’s working," he says.
He says he’s ready to work with whoever wins as Honolulu mayor this fall.
"Regardless of what happens, rail or no rail, I will work with whoever is mayor to see to it that transportation, housing, education and economic recovery continues," Abercrombie says.
He says fulfilling the equity clause in the largest public worker union contract, known as favored nations for HGEA, will be done with a minimum of general fund expense.
And he says education reforms being done in hopes of tens of millions on federal Race to the Top money will continue whether or not federal officials agree enough progress is being made, when they visit Hawaii to check later this month.
"If it comes, terrific, and hallelujah, but if it doesn’t it won’t stop us from a policy standpoint of moving forward," he says.
Abercrombie says he thinks teachers’ commitment to reforms is there, regardless of whether what he calls internal union politics is at ease with it.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
