Furloughs: Legislative leadership is sorely lacking

For starters, here are eight different funding options from the Hawaiʻi Budget and Policy Center that could easily close the gap in funding being used to justify public-employee furloughs. None of these funding options would negatively impact middle- or low-income local residents. In addition to these eight, here are two more to be added to the list: cannabis and the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA).

The legalization of cannabis for responsible adult use has generated a billion dollars in new tax revenue for Colorado. For Hawaiʻi’s legislative leadership to continue delaying what most believe is inevitable is beyond comprehension.

The $100 million budget of the HTA must also be put on the chopping block. State funds derived from the transient accommodations tax should be used to support public services and public workers. The HTA provides many valuable services. However, tourism marketing money should come directly from the industry that benefits.