ByKen Ige, Star-Bulletin
About 100 people rallied at the Capitol today for
tax breaks and other reforms.

"Small business creates jobs," said Tim Moore, a Maui restaurant owner. "We can create those jobs if government steps out of the way."

Among the sign-wavers was House Democrat Norman Sakamoto, president of SC Pacific construction, and new member of the Small Business Caucus. He said high costs and heavy restrictions make running a business tough.

The Small Business Caucus, a bipartisan group of 36 state lawmakers, is working on bills to be introduced this session on job creation, tax reduction, government efficiency, and regulatory reforms.

The rally was called by the Small Business Legislative Coalition. Among lawmakers on hand: House Majority Leader Tom Okamoto, House Republicans Sam Sloan, Barbara Marumoto, Quentin Kawananakoa, Samson Iona, Cynthia Thielen, and Galen Fox; House Democrats David Stegmaier, Terry Nui Yoshinaga and Ed Case, and Senate Democrat Norman Sakamoto.

Case, partner in the law firm Carlsmith Ball Wichman Case & Ichiki, called for a 10 percent cut in the excise tax over the next two years. "The money to run the government comes from business," he said. "That message has been lost."