House panel's budget aids worker health fund

The draft two-year plan trims $600 million and initiatives from Abercrombie's proposal

By Derrick DePledge

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Mar 09, 2013

~~<p>The state House Finance Committee on Friday took a cautious approach to the state's two-year budget, shaving Gov. Neil Abercrombie's spending request but agreeing with the governor that the state must take meaningful steps to address unfunded liability in the public-worker health care fund.</p>
<p>The budget draft, which will go before the full House next week for approval, is a temporary marker. Lawmakers will not hear the latest state revenue forecast until next week and do not know the full impact of federal budget cuts from sequestration. Contract negotiations between the state and public-sector labor unions are in progress, so lawmakers would have to fit any agreement reached before session ends in May into the spending plan.</p>
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The state House Finance Committee on Friday took a cautious approach to the state's two-year budget, shaving Gov. Neil Abercrombie's spending request but agreeing with the governor that the state must take meaningful steps to address unfunded liability in the public-worker health care fund.

The budget draft, which will go before the full House next week for approval, is a temporary marker. Lawmakers will not hear the latest state revenue forecast until next week and do not know the full impact of federal budget cuts from sequestration. Contract negotiations between the state and public-sector labor unions are in progress, so lawmakers would have to fit any agreement reached before session ends in May into the spending plan. Login for more...