Officials from the state's public health care provider, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, say they will likely need more than a quarter of a billion dollars in taxpayer money over the next two fiscal years to fully offset potentially crippling debts, ranging from new federal changes to collective bargaining raises. Some officials, however, say they are not convinced the request should be approved. "I don't think they're going to get that," Rep. Daynette "Dee" Morikawa, D, Koloa-Niihau, said about the financial projections, which were released during a joint informational session Wednesday for the Senate Ways and Means Committee and House Finance Committee. "It's going to be very interesting. I think, when those numbers came out to the budget committee, their jaws dropped."
