Souki deserves kudos for visionary plan
When I first heard about a possible increase in the general excise tax, I was angry like most of my friends. Recently, I attended a presentation at Makiki Park on the total economic package and left feeling that the plan, in its totality, makes sense.The plan cuts enough of state government without hurting the welfare and well-being of our children. It also gives a huge tax incentive to businesses and residents.
I wish to congratulate House Speaker Joe Souki for his doggedness and determination in preserving the majority of that package.
It is true what he says: You cannot focus on only one item (like the GET hike), because the logic of the plan is in the totality of its components.
Linda H. Aragon
Waimanalo
Agriculture is penalized in current tax structure
One important state goal is being overlooked in the tax and budget stimulus package being considered by the Legislature: fostering the growth of diversified agriculture via the small farmer, our principal hope for absorbing idle cane and pineapple lands.Most small start-up farmers, for capital constraint reasons, are leasing their farm land from other large landholders. Those land leases generally include a provision that the lessee (small farmer) add to the base lease payment an amount to cover the GET liability of the lessor. This is a significant amount.
Doesn't this strike you as grossly counterproductive when a tax policy affects so negatively such an important goal for Hawaii's social and visual environment and economic balance?
Why not treat agriculture ground lease rent, if not all agriculture expenses, in the same way as "producing" revenue is treated, namely at the .5 percent tax rate?
Rollie Herberg
Waiahole Ditch purchase is genocide
The 18-mile march by Hakipuu-Waiahole taro planters on April 23 -- to rally at the state Capitol, with more than 200 supporters -- affirmed that we are kanaka maoli because of taro. The chants and gourds declared that taro is our elder sibling. It feeds us.Without water and land, we have no kalo and, therefore, we will perish as a distinct people and nation.
Thus, the governor's push for HB 2990 -- to buy the Waiahole Ditch system from Amfac for $10 million to assure the theft of Windward water from taro gardens to give to Leeward transnational corporations' golf course resorts -- is genocide.
This betrayal by legislators, who promised support for struggling Windward planters, will not be forgotten when voters go to the polls.
Kekuni Blaisdell
Tanaka was out of line criticizing co-chairwomen
During the past few days, the Star-Bulletin has been running stories relative to the Senate Ways and Means Committee and its co-chairwomen, Carol Fukunaga and Rosalyn Baker.They have decided to withhold $5 million from the proposed budget and have demanded that neighborhood complaints about noise and congestion around the Hawaii Convention Center be resolved by May 5.
The authority has had more than ample time to mitigate many of the problems, but has resorted to lies and innuendoes to placate residents of the area.
Furthermore, Sen. Joe Tanaka's criticism of the co-chairwomen is a real cop-out. His opinion reflects those in both the House and Senate who think law-making is a spectator sport, to be enjoyed like Monday morning quarterbacks.
Legislators must think with their minds, not their hearts. They must realize that Hawaii's economy is recoverable only with sound plans of development within the state. Trading income tax dollars for excise tax dollars will never accomplish the intended purpose.
Sam and Olive Bren
Convention authority isn't responsive or cooperative
Even though the convention center is far from being in full operation, residents already are being bombarded at night with unreasonable noise and bright lights. Local groups have tried to work with the center to alleviate these adverse conditions, but have been completely ignored and met with rude disdain.A number of our elected representatives have tried to assist in getting the center's powers to take corrective action to lessen these annoying conditions, but they also have been unable to get them to budge.
My hat is off to Sens. Baker and Fukunaga for taking a stand to effect action by the Convention Center Authority. They want to correct the disturbances to thousands of our citizens who have been "blessed" with having the center in our backyards.
Frances Delany
Legislation would restrict freedom of speech
Please give your attention to HB 1160 as amended by SD 1. Under the guise of campaign finance reform, this bill guts the First Amendment. It attempts to bring all sorts of persons and organizations that may endorse or support candidates for political office under the thumb of the Campaign Spending Commission.People independent of a candidate's campaign -- unions, businesses, political parties, even journalists -- would be subject to regulatory controls and limits on their political funding and advocacy. It is an essential element of our liberty that our ability to advocate political causes be outside the control of the government in power.
Tracy Ryan
Libertarian Party of Hawaii
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