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Saturday, July 18, 2020

Ige COVID Solution: Just Stop Paying EUTF

By News Release @ 1:54 PM :: 5982 Views
 

GOVERNOR IGE SIGNS EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION, EXTENDING 14-DAY QUARANTINE FOR TRAVELERS ENTERING STATE OF HAWAII

News Release from Office of the Governor, Jul 17, 2020

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige has signed the 10th emergency proclamation, which keeps the mandatory 14-day quarantine in effect for travelers entering the State of Hawai‘i. Under the proclamation, travelers arriving in Hawai‘i will continue to undergo a mandatory screening process at the airport.

The period of self-quarantine continues to begin at the time of arrival through 14 days or for the duration of the visit – whichever is shorter. All arriving travelers will be required to comply with all applicable state and county rules, directives and orders.

The pre-travel testing option, currently scheduled to begin on Sept. 1, will be addressed in the 11th emergency proclamation in August.

The proclamation also:

  • extends the moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent,
  • suspends certain laws to enable the governor to access CARES Act money in the Rainy Day Fund, and
  • suspends certain post-employment benefits and pre-funding payments to the Hawai‘i Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund for FY 21,

to help address the economic shortfalls resulting from COVID-19.

Please see the 10th emergency proclamation for more details.

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Ige COVID Solution: Just Stop Paying EUTF

CB: … Gov. David Ige on Friday signed a new emergency proclamation that leaves the mandatory 14-day quarantine in effect for travelers who enter the state before the end of August, and also helps the administration balance the budget by waiving a requirement that the state pre-pay its public employee and retiree health care obligations.

State law currently requires the administration to pay hundreds of millions of dollars each year into the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to pre-pay retiree health benefits, a mandate that Ige himself helped to push through the Legislature in 2013.

Waiving that law now will free up a significant amount of money to help the administration cope with an estimated $2.3 billion budget shortfall. The proclamation waives the pre-payment requirement for the fiscal year that began July 1.

Waiving the entire “annual required contribution” or ARC payment to EUTF for this year would save the state about $840 million, according to one official….

read … Hawaii Gov Finds New Ways To Help Shore Up $2.3 Billion Budget Gap

SA: He also made it easier for himself to access CARES Act money in the Rainy Day Fund

Background: Act 268 Hawaii Unfunded Liabilities Plan: Pot of Gold for Corrupt Union Leaders

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