Rep. Gene Ward (R-Hawaii Kai-Kalama Valley) said today on the House Floor that HB 1868 HD1 would dumb down the State government like the furloughs are dumbing down our kids.
The bill would prohibit civil service employees who accept an appointed position from returning to their civil service positions for one year. Ward criticized it for being too political and against the best interests of the State.
“There’s no reason why people with appointed positions shouldn’t be allowed to serve again until one year lapses,” Ward said. “What’s the point? All it accomplishes is the dumbing down of the government at a time when we need the best and most experienced people working to get us back on the right track.”
Pearl Imada Iboshi, the current Deputy Director for the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, was presented as an example of the kind of people that would be prohibited from returning to a civil service position for one year. She was appointed by Gov. Linda Lingle. But as soon as Lingle’s term is over, Iboshi will automatically lose her position.
Imada served as the state’s chief economist since 1995 and has been a member of the Council on Revenues since 1997. Her highest level of education is a doctorate in economics from the University of Hawaii. Ward described her as an archive of information.
“Because of HB 1868, she won’t be able to return to be the state’s chief economist when Lingle’s term is over,” Ward said. “For a year, we’re all going to lose her institutional knowledge and expertise. And it’ll all be because of a silly, partisan rule that goes against logic and the best interests of the public.”
(HB 1868 HD1 passed out of the House on Tuesday.)
‘Representative Gene Ward is a member of the State House of Representatives
and represents House District 17, Hawaii Kai