Getting caught with a single aerial firework without a permit could land you in prison for up to five years, and letting children under 18 ride in the back of a pickup truck could get you a ticket under bills approved yesterday by the state Senate. Aerial fireworks
a hot Senate issueLegistators maneuver on
By Bruce Dunford
issues as measures move
to conference committees
Associated PressThe House, meanwhile, passed a graduated food tax credit, an earned income tax credit and an increase in the standard deduction for personal income taxes.
State lawmakers spent yesterday discussing and voting on hundreds of bills as the 2001 legislative session moved into its final phase toward a scheduled May 3 adjournment.
The House and Senate voted on each other's bills, leaving conference committees to work out differences.
Rep. Barbara Marumoto (R, Waialae) said a measure to give a food tax credit of up to $70 per person for lower-income families and increase the standard tax deduction up to $1,900 for individuals and $2,400 for married couples "is my favorite bill."
"It helps the working poor," she said.
Rep. Ed Case (D, Manoa), however, said it doesn't provide enough tax relief and he doubts it will survive when it goes into conference.
"We'll be negotiating with the Senate which has shown no inclination of going forward with tax relief for lower income taxpayers," Case said.
Minority Leader Galen Fox (R, Waikiki) said the bill "is more a tease than any kind of reality."
For a family of four making slightly over $20,000, the credit is only $80 off the $440 actual annual cost of the excise tax on food, Fox said.
A bill to impose even tougher restrictions on fireworks use than those imposed by a new law last year generated debate in the Senate where Sen. Matt Matsunaga (D, Palolo) described it as "trying to kill cockroaches with a shotgun."
The measure backed by Sen. Cal Kawamoto (D,Waipahu) would make it a Class C felony, punishable by up to five years in prison, for possession or setting off a single aerial firework. It also would require a $25 permit for using any kind of fireworks, including sparklers and party poppers.
"One aerial firework killed a lady in a house which burned down," said Kawamoto, referring to the New Year's Eve death of 80-year-old Lillian Herring in a Palolo Valley fire that authorities say apparently resulted from a skyrocket that ignited boxes stored in her garage.
"This is what we're concerned about, and that's not killing cockroaches. It's destruction of property and destroying homes," Kawamoto said.
Kawamoto also was the backer of bills to ban children under the age of 18 from riding in the back of pickups and to require booster seats for children under eight years of age or under 60 pounds.
Sen. Avery Chumbley (D, Kihei) said the measure would be a hardship for people who only have pickups and can't afford a second car.
"It goes too far," Chumbley said. "Opposing this bill doesn't mean you're against safety, but there has to be some balance."
A measure to impose a $7.25 daily surcharge on hotel rooms sold through tour packages prompted lengthy debate with several senators saying it was putting the state's tourism industry in danger.
Sen. Donna Kim (D, Aiea) chairwoman of the Tourism Committee, said the measure closes a loophole in the tax law by requiring tour wholesalers to follow the same rules as hotels and time share units. She estimates it'll raise another $45 million.
Sen. Fred Hemmings (R, Kailua) called the bill "punitive and vindictive."
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union recommended the bill in January during its heated contract dispute with the Royal Lahaina Resort which is owned by Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays, the state's largest tour wholesaler. The union reached a contract settlement with the hotel two weeks ago.