Governor targets 33 bills
for possible vetoes

Gov. Linda Lingle on has identified 33 bills that she is considering vetoing, including two that deal with workers' compensation, Senate Bill 1060 and House Bill 855, both of which were opposed by the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

SB1060 limits an employer's ability to terminate benefits. HB855 allows an employee to continue receiving medical treatment during an ongoing dispute over the necessity of that care, even if a doctor has declared the employee fit to return to work. The bill also restricts rulemaking by the director of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Other bills on the list would:

• Limit the governor's power over international trade and procurement activities
• Require businesses going through bankruptcy or restructuring to notify their employees and the DLIR of possible closure
• Impose a new fee on marine commercial containers exclusively
• Change laws covering family medical leave
• Complete the Hawai'i 2050 Project

"We have been determined to make Hawai'i 2050 a public, transparent and community-driven effort," the Hawai‘i 2050 Task Force said in an email appeal for supporters to rally and ask the governor not to veto the bill, House Bill 1270.

"Thanks to the insight and energy of thousands of community members, the Hawai'i 2050 Sustainability Plan is in the home stretch," the task force said. "Yet a potential roadblock looms. Governor Lingle has placed the bill to complete the Hawai'i 2050 Project – House Bill 1270 – on her list of potential vetoes. A veto by the Governor will ignore the time, energy and goodwill of the thousands of Hawai'i residents who have participated in Hawai'i 2050."

Lingle has until July 10 to decide whether to veto the bills. A two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate chambers is required to override vetoes.