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Don’t exempt police
from income taxes

THE ISSUE The Legislature is considering a bill that would exempt police officers from paying state income taxes.

WAGE increases would discourage police officers in Hawaii from accepting higher-paying jobs on the mainland, but radical legislation that would exempt them from paying state income taxes is not the answer. The City Council last year approved a more sensible approach, a plan that would allow the city to keep revenue from uncontested traffic fines so it can afford to give police increased wages.

The proposed tax exemption is such a wild idea that many might not have taken it seriously. However, it has been approved by the state Senate and two House committees. The state Tax Department has expressed its opposition to the bill, and it should merit Governor Lingle's veto if it finds its way to the Capitol's top floor.

The City Council in May approved a plan proposed by Councilman Charles Djou that would have police issue civil citations for traffic violations instead of the state-administered tickets. Drivers would be given the option of paying $10 less than the stated fine if they agree not to contest it in court.

The revenue would go to the city instead of the state, which now uses the money to help finance the court system. The formula is patterned after a system that works well in Minnesota, but it would need the Legislature's approval to be employed in Hawaii.

The nonsensical tax exemption and the logical method of diverting revenue to the counties would cost similar ballpark amounts. The Tax Department estimates that the tax exemption would cost the state $7.6 million a year in lost revenue, while the Council's plan is figured to divert $5 million to $10 million annually.

Unlike redirection of traffic-fine revenue, the tax exemption would set a dangerous precedent and could lead to other public employees clamoring for similar treatment. Firefighters would be first in line.

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Freedom wins again
in former Soviet land

THE ISSUE Demonstrations in Kyrgyzstan have led to the departure of President Askar Akayev.

REVERBERATIONS of freedom and democracy have extended to the small and mountainous Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan, the third former Soviet republic in the past 18 months to topple by popular demand. People in other autocratic nations formerly under the Kremlin yoke should realize that the liberty they were promised but denied is attainable.

Angry about mass poverty, government corruption and rigged elections, thousands of protesters under the banner of "The Tulip Revolution," after Kyrgyzstan 's favorite flower, drove President Askar Akayev from office. The mostly peaceful revolt followed similar revolutions in the former Soviet republics of Georgia in November 2003 and Ukraine a year later.

The Bush administration was slower to applaud the protests in Bishkek, possibly because of the looting that accompanied them. However, Bush yesterday added stops in Latvia, where he will meet with leaders of the three Baltic states, now members of NATO, and Georgia to his planned trip next month to Moscow. Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko is scheduled to meet with Bush at the White House on April 4.

The Georgia stop will "underscore his support for democracy, historic reform and peaceful conflict resolution," the White House said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been troubled by the freedom movements as he continues to withdraw from democratic reforms.

Akayev, who led Kyrgyzstan since 1990, spoke glowingly of democracy in the early years of his presidency but grew autocratic and focused on grooming his daughter to succeed him. Parties loyal to him won 90 percent of the vote in recent flawed elections, in which his son and daughter were elected to parliament.

His downfall has led to speculation about future peaceful revolutions in nearby authoritarian remnants of the U.S.S.R. such as Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, where President Saparmurat Niyazov had his parliament declare him president for life.