Tuesday is the 46th day of the 60-day session.

STATE, HGEA REACH TENTATIVE CONTRACT

Gov. Linda Lingle and the leaders of the Hawai'i Government Employees Association announced a tentative agreement Thursday on a new two-year $183.2 million contract.

The contract, if ratified by rank-and-file union members, would provide 4 percent annual raises starting in July to about 26,000 state and county government workers. Step movements would also be provided based on performance and years of service.

It is only the second time since 1995 that an HGEA contract has not been resolved through binding arbitration.

The state is still at an impasse with the bargaining unit representing about 1,500 registered nurses.

The state is also in negotiations with the Hawai'i State Teachers Association and the United Public Workers over new contracts.

State lawmakers are anticipating the results of collective bargaining as they complete work on the state budget and determine the size of a tax refund.

KOLLER HEARING TURNS EMOTIONAL

Lillian Koller, the director of the state Department of Human Services, apologized Thursday for hurting any feelings as she tried to make changes at the department over the past few years.

In a confirmation hearing that at times had the feel of a confessional, a contrite Koller promised to try to make the climate at the department more comfortable so her staff could come forward with any concerns about policy or her leadership.

The first hearing on Koller's nomination on Tuesday was overwhelmingly positive. But state Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland, D-13th (Kalihi, Nu'uanu), the chairwoman of the Senate Human Services and Public Housing Committee, warned that she had spoken to several of the director's critics who did not want to testify unless it was clear Chun Oakland was going to oppose the nomination.

Koller addressed those concerns on Thursday, along with several policy and procedural issues within the department that were raised by senators. The most striking part of the hearing was Koller's personal response to worries about her reputation for intensity and tenacity.

"We can be so much more effective because of the investment you've made in me and what I understand that I need to do to improve the way I interact with people," Koller said.

The committee will vote on her nomination next Thursday before it goes before the full Senate. Koller's nomination had been a question mark earlier in the session but observers now believe she will be confirmed.

SENATE REJECTS WHITE

The Senate voted 16-9 on Monday against the nomination of Iwalani White as director of the state Department of Public Safety.

Senators found that, while qualified, White had not shown the necessary leadership and management skills in her eight months as interim director. She was the first of Lingle's cabinet nominees to lose a confirmation vote since the governor took office in 2002.

Lingle said she was disappointed because she believed White is the right person for the job. White said she thought the opposition in the Senate was due to disagreements over the way she handled some personnel issues at the department. She thanked the people who spoke to the Senate on behalf of her nomination.

"So one thing I learned from this is, I know who my friends are," she said.

Lingle will have to find another nominee for the post.

LEARN MORE