By ANITA HOFSCHNEIDER
By ANITA HOFSCHNEIDER
Associated Press
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii lawmakers have killed a measure that would have created a new agency called the Public-Private Partnership Authority.
A committee of negotiators met Friday and decided to defer the bill. Lawmakers could still take up the bill next year because Hawaii has a biennial session.
The proposal would have allowed the agency to coordinate with private companies to start three pilot projects, including building a new film studio and starting main street project in Wahiawa in rural Oahu.
Advocates of the measure have said it would help raise revenue for the state. Critics say the proposal was too similar to the state’s existing public land development agency. Gov. Neil Abercrombie agreed to abolish the organization earlier this week in response to public outcry over the agency’s broad exemptions.