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IN AND AROUND THE CAPITOL
Panel expands scope
Tam: Capitol is 'sick building'
of entertainment fund
Fluoride bill's prospects decaying By Leila Fujimori
Star-Bulletin
A bill that creates a $5 million special fund for three years to help attract television series was broadened by the House Committee on Culture and the Arts yesterday to include film and other types of television shows.
"This bill will not be able to address the immediate concerns of 'Baywatch,' but may be able to address a situation similar to 'Baywatch' in a year," said committee Chairman K. Mark Takai, because no money is in the fund.
If the Legislature passes the bill, the state will be empowered to negotiate the best deals to secure television and film productions, including low-interest loans and cash, which could be tied to ownership rights in a production, said Takai. The Legislature can appropriate funds, and other government agencies can provide support to an entertainment fund.
Any money for the industry will come out of that fund, and interest earned would go back into it.
The bill also increases tax credits for production costs to 8 percent from 4 percent and provide a 7.25 percent credit for hotel accommodation costs for cast and crew.
The bill is intended to create a team of experts to determine the appropriate means of support for film and television production.
Critics of the original bills testified in support of the entertainment industry, but asked that their segment of the industry be represented in the legislation, Takai said.
"This whole effort is an attempt to look at other industries to expand our economy, high tech being the other," Takai said.
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Tam blames
By Richard Borreca
air conditioning
for Capitol illnessStar-Bulletin
It isn't the politics or the smoke-filled back rooms that causes so much trouble, it's the air conditioning, according to state Sen. Rod Tam.
He has introduced a resolution calling for an investigation of the state Capitol air-conditioning system.
"There are a high number of state senators, representatives and employees at the state Capitol who suffer from cold- and flu-like symptoms for longer periods of time than normal," Tam said in his resolution.
"The state Capitol is accordingly known as the 'sick building,' " he said.
Tam's resolution suggests that perhaps the problem is with the air-conditioning contractor, Carrier.
Tams asks that the Department of Accounting and General Services review the performance of the air-conditioning contractor.
Another senator, Sam Slom, however, doubted that the air conditioning was a problem.
"I feel great, healthy and motivated," Slom said.
"But if you judge by the quality of the legislation around here, that might be affecting the mentality of people here," Slom said.
Jimmy Hisano, the public building management services branch chief responsible for the state Capitol, said he has heard no other complaints about the air conditioning.
"Carrier is always there at the Capitol, so I don't know what the grounds would be.
"You know this is cold season," Hisano added.
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House OKs fluoride
Associated Press
bill, but Senate puts
legislation on holdThe Cayetano administration's controversial proposal to mandate fluoridation of the state's public water systems to combat tooth decay was preliminarily approved yesterday by the state House of Representatives.
However, the fate of the measure in the Senate appears bleak.
Suzanne Chun Oakland (D, Palama), chairwoman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, said she's holding the measure until next year, pending a study into the effects of fluoridation in other states.
In the House, supporters said studies show fluoridation is safe and could end Hawaii's distinction of having a tooth decay rate in children that is twice the national average.
"As a public health policy issue, it is the right thing to do, no question," said Rep. Dennis Arakaki (D, Kalihi Valley).
However, Rep. David Pendleton (R, Maunawili) noted that it is known that vegetables and fruits are healthy, but government doesn't force people to eat them.
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