HONOLULU -- Hawaii's Republican governor will have to get her proposals approved by the Legislature, which is controlled by Democrats.

Democrats said they support some kind of tax refund. It is also required by the state Constitution. However, many of the Democrats do not want to go as far as the governor wants them to.

Gov. Linda Lingle proposed refunding $100 to every person who earns less than $100,000 a year.

Democrats said that the governor's proposed tax refunds should be smaller. They said that the extra money should be used to attack the $300 million backlog of repairs at public schools statewide.

Even as the governor is calling on better science and technology education, Democrats said she is slashing basic education expenses.

"What the governor did in her budget, she reduced the board's request for electricity by 80 percent, cut the food service request, didn't fund their request for sewer fees, didn't fund their request for compliance issues such as Americans with Disabilities Act and gender equity, didn't fund their requests for technology, which is ironic," House Education Chairman Rep. Roy Takumi said.

Each time she made one of her tax relief proposals in her speech Republican lawmakers clapped, but the great majority of legislators who are Democrats did not applaud.

The Democratic majority said it will propose tax refunds for every taxpayer, but they will not be as high as Lingle's proposals.

"I don't think people who are earning $100,000 or more would appreciate $25, but I think $25 pooled together can go a long way in providing health care for our people, or fixing our schools and providing health insurance for our keiki," Rep. Marcus Oshiro said.

Democrats said that there is a repair backlog at public schools worth about $300 million, and some of the surplus money should go there instead.

"In good economic times, that's when you take some of those quote 'surpluses' and reinvest them, so that you do lay the foundation for continued hope, opportunity and advancement for our people," Sen. Rosalyn Baker said.

Democrats said they will give the governor's bills a fair shake. The Democrats' own tax relief proposals are expected to be announced in detail in the next few days.