 Aloha, I'm Kili Akinah, president of the Grassroot Institute. As many of you know, the Grassroot Institute has been a supporter of public-private partnerships for a long time, especially the Maui Hospital Plan. Now, having done the research on employment issues under the old system and after taking time to talk to residents who are desperate about better healthcare, we do understand what's at stake. So, frankly, we've been nearly as frustrated as the people of Maui at the delays that have dogged the hospital transition. Only those caused by wrangling over special benefits for union employees. Last year, we spoke out against the special session and resulting law that added millions to the project's price tag. But while that act is being held up by lawsuit, it's one filed by the state employee's retirement system over concerns that the law jeopardizes the tax status of the state pension fund, the legislature is trying to find another way to get those benefits to the hospital employees. There's a series of bills that were heard recently, HB 76 233 and 234. They attempt to amend the law passed last summer by adding new severance options for the hospital employees. Unfortunately, they still raise many of the same problems. Their attempt to blur the line between public and private employees still threatens the tax-qualified status of the ERS and its members. And there's still a cost to the state. The state budget director estimates that paying severance benefits negotiated through collective bargaining supplemental agreements is going to put a $30 million debt in the general fund. Yes, we absolutely need to support the workers as they transition to a private nonprofit provider. But at the same time, we should also talk about a longer view, about what this may mean for future projects. The lawsuits, the legal issues, the endless union negotiations, are we sending the wrong message about doing business in Hawaii and with Hawaii? Are we convincing the next state partner that the costs might be too high? The people of Maui are no doubt wondering whether they're ever going to get their fully functional hospital up and running and whether it will disappear into a black hole of union and government negotiation. This partnership is a great thing for Hawaii and it shows great promise for improving healthcare throughout the state. Let's not cripple it any further. Ehana Kako, let's work together. I'm Keeley Eakina with the Grassroot Institute.