The reputation of Hawaii vis a vis business, especially business firms from outside, is already miserable. This legislation is a giant step in the wrong direction. It flies in the face of every concept of free market commerce.
The taxpayers of Hawaii will pay dearly for this one. And it won't really save local jobs. On-site labor is almost always from the local community, no matter who the contractor is.
We will never know how much more this law will cost us. No outside firm will even bother bidding if they start out 15 percent behind the local firm.
Perhaps I shouldn't worry because the first legal action filed in a federal court claiming unfair restraint of interstate commerce is likely to be upheld in a minute.
James V. Pollock
Kaneohe
The bill, passed unanimously by the Legislature, recognizes that local firms that pay taxes here are often at a disadvantage against mainland firms. Those companies are often located in places where costs are much lower than here and some of those firms take our money but don't pay the taxes they owe.
The absolute low bidder does not always give the taxpayer "the most bang for the buck." Companies can offer better value if they know local conditions, have experience doing work here, hire locally, and will be around when the job is over.
Most important, a dollar spent with a local firm stays in Hawaii. It creates more jobs here. The company and workers pay taxes for local needs like schools. Jobs here reduce the need for state services like welfare. Taxpayers save money not spent on the problems that come with unemployment, like crime and drug use.
Mainland companies can still do business here, for example, by establishing joint ventures with local firms. This too meets Governor Cayetano's goal of creating business and jobs in Hawaii, not somewhere else.
Further, local firms will usually be bidding against one another, ensuring taxpayers the benefits of the competitive process. An advantage for local firms over mainland firms does not mean Hawaii taxpayers will be paying "market price plus 15 percent," as your editorial erroneously predicts.
Kathleen Racuya-Markrich
Press Secretary
Office of the Governor
In our civilization, compromise is the accepted way of resolving disagreements and living harmoniously. Yet HFT's leaders refuse to compromise and stubbornly whine about societal wrongs and catastrophes. No same-sex marriage, no domestic partnerships, no compromises, period!
They complain about the will of the "people" being ignored and insist that the majority should rule, yet they refuse to acknowledge the legitimacy of the legislative majority who clearly said, "No!" Now they whine about legislators not truly representing the will of their constituencies.
Perhaps HFT should stand for Hawaii's Freemen Today.
D. Hunter Hill
Mililani
The stories of abuse never seemed real on television, but this story touched me; it made me realize how the abuse of children is a major issue, especially in Hawaii.
I blame all of this pain and misery inflicted on little children on my generation and all the teen-age mistakes: not practicing safe sex, not aborting the child and, most of all, not showing the responsibility to take care of the child after the decision was made to keep it. I know that I will never abuse my child, if and when I have one.
Deserving of a thumbs-up are Child Protective Services and all the other people who do all that they possibly can to help the abused. Although there are still a lot of problems, at least they are doing something.
Tammy Chu
9th Grade
Iolani School