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Happy New Year
from State Senator
Josh Green
January 1, 2010
Dear Friends,
It is a great honor
and privilege to
continue working on
your behalf in the
State Senate in
2010. I will keep
doing everything I
can to make Hawaii
an even better place
to live for all of
us.
This year I will
introduce
legislation intended
to strengthen two of
Hawaii's most
important
institutions: our
public school system
and our community
hospitals.
First, I have
submitted a bill
that will require a
minimum of 180 days
of classroom
instruction in our
public schools. The
people of Hawaii
have overwhelmingly
objected to reducing
classroom days to
meet cuts in our
education budget,
and I strongly agree
with these
objections. This
bill will ensure
that classroom days
are protected as our
highest priority as
we make decisions
about education
spending.
My second proposal
will protect and
strengthen our
community hospitals.
As healthcare costs
grow nationwide, our
community hospital
system continues to
incur annual budget
deficits of more
than $100 million.
As taxpayers, we can
no longer afford to
subsidize the
healthcare safety
net in this way.
In agreement with
the independent
experts who recently
analyzed our 15
community hospitals,
my proposal will
financially
restructure the
system as a 501c3,
non-profit
organization. This
will save us as
taxpayers more than
$60 million
annually, and will
protect any regional
hospital from being
closed.
My other important
priorities this year
include tougher DUI
laws, a mandate that
all state purchases
be energy efficient
and environmentally
sound, and
supporting the use
of the Rainy Day
Fund to protect
critical services
for those with
disabilities or
severe illness.
Please contact me
any time with your
ideas and concerns.
Again, thank you for
the honor of
representing you in
the State Senate.
My family and I wish
you a happy,
healthy, and safe
New Year.
Sincerely,
Josh Green M.D.
State Senator |
