Five constitutional amendments proposed for general election ballot
n Nov. 4, voters will cast ballots on five proposed amendments to the state constitution. Among those is a proposal to amend the constitution to allow public funds to be appropriated for the support or benefit of private early-childhood education programs. The appropriations would be subject to the state’s nondiscrimination statute. According to the state Department of the Attorney General, the constitutional amendment is needed because the state constitution prohibits the appropriation of public funds to support or benefit private educational institutions. “Consequently, we advise that an amendment which carves out an exception allowing public monies to be appropriated for the support or benefit of private early-childhood education programs is necessary,� department officials said. In testimony to state lawmakers in April, Gov. Neil Abercrombie supported the constitutional amendment, saying it would help implement early-learning programs. The governor expressed support for preschool education groups such as the School Readiness Program, Head Start and Kamehameha Schools, which educate thousands of preschool-age children.
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By implementing an early-childhood program now, Hawaii would be in a position to take advantage of federal money that will be made available through federal early-learning proposals, he said. Those were being designed as federal-state costsharing models focused on quality rather than quantity, Abercrombie pointed out. He noted that Hawaii lost out on the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grant money because the state did not have an early-learning program in place. Abercrombie said the constitutional amendment would not make way for a school voucher program. “Families will not receive the subsidy nor be able to enroll their children in any program of their choice,� he said. “The state will pay the contracted providers directly – only those that meet the requirements established by the Executive Office on Early Learning.� The governor said the early-childhood programs and the constitutional amendment would not change the separation of church and state, although the Executive Office on Early Learning “would like to work with faith-based programs to bring them into the state’s early-learning system as much as possible.�
MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL CANDIDATES Continued from Page 20 Community service: Parent Teacher Student Association, 1992-2011; scoutmaster, Boy Scouts of America Pukalani Troop 75, 1998-2006; Rotary 2002-2006; School Community Based Management, 2003-04; Maui County Real Property Tax Review Board 2003-04 Family: Married, two children Public hospital funding: “The financial woes of the public system are not new and in fact, Maui Memorial Medical Center has been proactive with the Legislature in proposing alternatives and potential solutions. “The discussion needs to shift from trying to find blame and monetary issues to recognizing the challenges and finding a long-term solution that provides a sustainable business model and most importantly the best health care available for our community. “This includes addressing key issues like severe shortage of physicians and health care workers, specialty coverage in
the emergency room, and access to health care in the community. In addition, current union rules should be resolved by all stakeholders to fit the hospital work schedule requirements. “If we put health needs of our islands first, the rest should follow in the discussion on what our community deserves and what is realistic and affordable.�
“Despite the general nationwide prohibition on use of state funds to pay for religious instruction, states including Illinois have faith-based providers who have chosen to participate in their state-funded program,� Abercrombie said. The Hawaii Catholic Conference expressed reservations about how the statefunded preschool program would be implemented. “The plans set forth by the governor suggest that faith-based schools, in order to qualify for funds, could, among other things, separate secular and religious curriculums,� the conference said. “This ‘separation’ is simply not possible in Hawaii’s Catholic schools because religion is an integral part of the educational philosophy and environment. In fact, it is at the very core of each aspect of learning “Our biggest concern is the unanswered question: Will the plan, if enacted, set up a system whereby private schools that choose to participate directly compete with those who cannot for philosophical reasons? If that becomes the case, will faithbased schools that already provide a great service to the children and families of our communities have to close their doors.� Along with educating more than 8,000
students in kindergarten through the 12th grade in Hawaii, Hawaii Catholic schools also operate 23 preschools serving more than 1,200 children statewide. The Faith-Based Early Learning Coalition supported the constitutional amendment, but with “strong reservations,� saying its members wanted the freedom to express their faith. The other four proposed amendments include: ≤ Requiring the state Judicial Selection Commission to publicly disclose the names of all nominees to fill a vacancy in the office of the chief justice, supreme court, intermediate appellate court, circuit courts or district courts. ≤ Authorizing the state to issue special purpose revenue bonds to assist agricultural enterprises. ≤ Changing the constitution to increase the mandatory retirement age for state justices and judges to 80 years old. (Currently, mandatory retirement age is 70 years old.) ≤ Authorizing the state to issue special purpose revenue bonds and use the bond proceeds to assist dam and reservoir owners to improve their facilities to protect public safety and provide water storage.
I humbly ask for your support,
Ka‘ala Buenconsejo for Maui County Council
Cesspools: “The proposed amendments governing wastewater will have severe economic impact to homeowners with cesspools. Typically, homeowners living in rural areas and older subdivisions are affected. “The issues surrounding the proposed mandates are numerous and complex which include, but are not limited to, the uniqueness of our state especially in rural areas, complying with a 180-day process, septic systems or sewer connectivity, public health and safety, and EPA requirements. "Providing a Future for our Future Generations, “I believe the department and affected parties should immediately begin discussions and re-evaluate the proposals for Bringing our Communities Together..." timely solutions that will be fair, safe, in compliance, protect homeowners from fiPaid for by friends of Ka‘DOD %XHQFRQVHMR ‡ 3 2 %R[ /DKDLQD +, nancial hardship, and limit economic imZZZ NDDODEXHQFRQVHMR FRP pact to our community and the state.� A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Sunday, October 26, 2014 – Page S21