Lawmakers override governor's veto of Maui hospital bill

HONOLULU (AP) - Hawaii lawmakers have voted to override Gov. David Ige's veto on a bill that would transfer control of three Maui County hospitals to Kaiser Permanente, making it the largest privatization of public facilities in state history.

The legislation provides severance packages and retirement benefits to the hospital workers affected by the move, and Ige says it's too expensive. He vetoed the bill earlier this month, also citing concerns that it could jeopardize the tax-exempt status of the Employees' Retirement System.

The Legislature met in special session Wednesday and secured the necessary votes to overturn Ige's decision.

The governor says he's in discussions with the attorney general about the veto override.

Meanwhile, the Ige administration has been negotiating with a union suing the state over claims that the privatization violates state contracts.

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