HONOLULU — Lawmakers in the Hawaii Senate have passed a state budget that calls for $12 billion in spending during the 2015 fiscal year.
The budget passed Monday envisions less spending than what Gov. Neil Abercrombie originally proposed. The new budget reflects a lower forecast from the Council on Revenues.
Sen. David Ige says the Legislature will face future difficulty that shouldn’t be compounded by irresponsible actions now.
Most senators voted Monday to advance the bill (HB 1700). But Sen. Sam Slom, the lone Republican, voted against the budget proposal.
Slom says a single mom doesn’t have the chance to spend more money than she brings in, so neither should the government.
The budget now goes to a conference committee of House and Senate lawmakers to iron out differences.