[ OUR OPINION ]
Lawsuit may doom traffic cameras
A narrowly crafted lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union aimed at dismantling the state Department of Transportation's traffic camera program should be the final chapter in this controversy. The ACLU argues that turning over motorists' Social Security numbers -- the same as the driver's license number for most motorists -- to the private company operating the traffic cameras is an invasion of privacy. The state acknowledged as much when it decided to begin changing those numbers several years ago because of privacy concerns.
THE ISSUE
The ACLU has accused the traffic-camera program of illegally disseminating motorists' Social Security numbers.
The dissemination of Social Security numbers is not the source of the controversy over the traffic cams but is the most indisputable legal violation. Courts have ruled in previous cases that the state must have a compelling interest in disclosing and disseminating Social Security numbers.
Hawaii residents were coerced into revealing their Social Security numbers to receive driver's licenses until the state agreed to phase out the use of those nine-digit account numbers. As a result, licenses issued since January 2001 are numbered differently. That change should have been made much earlier, since the federal Privacy Act of 1974 made it unlawful for a government agency to deny any right, benefit or privilege because of a person's refusal to disclose his or her Social Security number.
Social Security numbers increasingly have been used in the crime of identity theft, especially since the advent of the Internet. A thief can obtain a person's welfare or Social Security benefits, credit cards or the victim's paycheck. In Hawaii, thieves have even stolen other peoples' Social Security numbers to obtain state identification cards that can be used to commit credit-card or bank fraud.
The ACLU lawsuit provides a reason for the few legislators who have defended the program in the face of public outrage to accede to demands that it be halted. The Legislature authorized the program four years ago, altered it in subsequent sessions and is considering legislation that would repeal it.
Although a defender of the program, Governor Cayetano now says he would not veto such a repeal. Asked his view of the proposed repeal in a session with the Star-Bulletin's editorial board, Cayetano said, "Be my guest."
BACK TO TOP
|
HSTA turns bully on
political playgroundSTATE lawmakers who succumb to pressure from the public school teachers union to undo health fund reforms would not be best serving Hawaii's taxpayers. Members of the House have thus far resisted; let's hope that the Senate finds the backbone to do the same.
THE ISSUE
The teachers union prods legislators to lift health-insurance fund reform.
A year after a strike that shut down public education in Hawaii, the Hawaii State Teachers Association is flexing its newfound muscles, pushing to undermine a portion of government health fund reforms enacted only last year. The law placed separate health plans set up by various public employee unions under a single, state-run system in an effort to reduce the cost to taxpayers, which auditors estimated would grow to more than $1 billion in the next 10 years.
HSTA leaders earlier announced that it would endorse candidates in each of the 76 legislative races up for election this year, which is certainly the union's privilege. The message was clear: Those who vote against the HSTA's wishes -- particularly its desire for the health plan change -- risk getting its endorsement.
The HSTA's measure could leach benefits to other public worker unions, effectively negating the health plan reform. "This bill they (HSTA leaders) are trying to pull would apply to everyone, including HGEA and UPW," said Senate vice president Colleen Hanabusa. "I think the teachers are being used to front for the other unions."
The HSTA's leaders cynical style of political bullying can backfire with taxpayers, especially when many are suffering through tough times themselves. The public largely supported teachers during the strike, and teachers do have a legitimate gripe about the slow pace at which the state is implementing their contract. However, constant grumbling about low pay, heavy workloads and insufficient benefits is becoming tiresome.
The other public worker unions do not enjoy an untarnished reputation among taxpayers. The recent dust-up in which the state Attorney General's Office sued UPW and HGEA over their resistance to audits of their health funds was another black mark.
If these unions do not want to add to the perception that they care only about themselves -- taxpayers be damned -- they should use their political power judiciously. Meanwhile, legislators ought to watch out for all of their constituents, not just the ones who draw their paychecks from government coffers.
BACK TO TOP
Published by Oahu Publications Inc., a subsidiary of Black Press.Don Kendall, Publisher
Frank Bridgewater, Editor 529-4791; fbridgewater@starbulletin.com
Michael Rovner, Assistant Editor 529-4768; mrovner@starbulletin.com
Lucy Young-Oda, Assistant Editor 529-4762; lyoungoda@starbulletin.comMary Poole, Editorial Page Editor, 529-4790; mpoole@starbulletin.com
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin (USPS 249460) is published daily by
John Flanagan, Contributing Editor 294-3533; jflanagan@starbulletin.com
Oahu Publications at 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-500, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.
Periodicals postage paid at Honolulu, Hawaii. Postmaster: Send address changes to
Star-Bulletin, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802.
