Letters to the Editor

Tighter lease-to-fee reforms should be considered

There is something very disturbing about seeing pictures of former beneficiaries of Bishop Estate largess and no mention of the thousands of dollars denied to worthy Hawaiian youth who could have been served by millions of dollars pocketed annually by five self-serving "trustees."

In lease-to-fee conversions, decisions must be made by public-spirited citizens in no way connected with the five who annually pocket millions of dollars which the princess wanted used for or saved for the youth she wanted to serve.

Where have our legislators been in recent years since reform legislation was considered? It is high time for ethically motivated legislators to introduce again reform legislation and see that it is enacted into law.

You can be sure that the loving God that Princess Pauahi worshiped will approve.

FRED R. METHERED

Double standard reigns in firefighter arbitration

Governor Cayetano was described as being unable to understand the arbitrators granting a 7.2 percent raise to firefighters over two years. Here are some answers:

1) Management's negotiators forced the arbitrators to choose all or nothing - 7.2 percent or 0 percent, despite attempts at compromise.

2) Two years ago, during the last contract negotiation, firefighters made heavy wage concessions.

3) Considering population density and real estate values, firefighters in Hawaii (especially in the City and County of Honolulu) receive much lower pay than firefighters on the mainland.

If the negotiated contract had been unfavorable to the union, it would still be legally bound to honor it. It's called "binding arbitration."

However, since government officials dislike the decision, they now say they will get around it by simply "not approving" it at the council level and at the Legislature.

This is a double standard. It violates the concept of having an arbitrator, and may be illegal.

Bottom line: We have legislators who are fiscally irresponsible and hold themselves above the law. Any incumbent who behaves this way should be an ex-incumbent.

JON DEAN

DOH stresses need to test all pregnant women for HIV

The state Department of Health strongly supports offering counseling and voluntary HIV testing to all pregnant women and women considering pregnancy ("Newborns with AIDS," Star-Bulletin editorial, March 4). Studies indicate that a high percentage of pregnant women will voluntarily choose to be tested if appropriately counseled by their health-care provider.

What is most important is that all pregnant women regardless of geographic location, economic status or ethnic group have access to HIV counseling and testing as part of prenatal services. The Department of Health is working with women's health-

care providers, health insurance companies and laboratories to help ensure that this becomes a reality in Hawaii.

For those pregnant women who test HIV positive, there is a need to consider AZT therapy. The dramatic reduction in HIV perinatal transmission in clinical trials indicates that every HIV positive pregnant woman should be counseled and offered AZT therapy to reduce the chances of transmitting HIV to her baby. The ultimate decision about taking AZT should be left to the woman, who should be advised by her health-care provider regarding the benefits and risks for herself and her child.

RICHARD L. VOGT, M.D.
State Epidemiologist
State Department of Health

Be careful out there; things are really crazy

You know when the government/bureaucracy has gotten too big and intrusive when:

It has become illegal to wash your car in your own driveway.
The government tells you how to raise your children and defines what disciplinary methods you can legally use in your own home.
Drug addicts receive disability/welfare payments and make more money than many hard-working people.
Same-sex marriages become legal because the legislators refuse to listen to the vast majority of their constituents.
Laws are changed which hurt the general public (i.e. small businesses and consumers), but enhance the legislators' professions (i.e. trial lawyers and local life insurance companies).

Government workers go on strike and then receive unemployment benefits.
Retirement income becomes taxable by the state as a new form of revenue because the government cannot control its own costs.

I could go on for some time. But the bottom line is that I cannot think of an incumbentwho is up for re-election who will receive my vote. And that starts at the top with Clinton/Gore, through Abercrombie and down to the state and local level.

R.D. GREENAMYER

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