Legislature again fails to keep itself honest

Bravo for your May 4 editorial noting the sad lack of campaign finance reform, and the questionable actions that led to the demise of excellent bills. The bill to allow vote-buying came frighteningly close to passing.

Hawaii is fortunate to have the Campaign Spending Commission, its director Robert Watada and his staff. They are terrific watchdogs over the use of private campaign gifts.

But more is needed. The most important reform, still unavailable in Hawaii, is the voluntary public-funding option. The Star-Bulletin's idea to set up an independent panel to formulate campaign reform goals is an excellent one.

During the past four years, bills to give Hawaii voters and candidates this clean option of publicly funded campaigns have been passed by the House and killed in the Senate by the same powerful senator (some might say overly powerful) mentioned in your editorial. It is time for the reforms so many legislators, public interest groups and citizens support to be moved past the self-serving objections and manipulations of a very few senators and delivered to Governor Lingle, who has promised us change. Public funding of campaigns benefits everyone and we should have it as one of our choices.

Laure Dillon
Executive Director
Hawaii Elections Project

Cruise-ship terrorism far from teen hijinks

I am outraged that Pamela Byrne, Kelley Ferguson's public defender, is suggesting that Ferguson's alleged conduct and behavior is typical teenage stuff (Star-Bulletin, May 1).

Instilling fear randomly among 2,000 innocent people (the definition of terrorism, I might add) is not among the predictable silly teenage pranks. It was vile, malicious, cruel and way over the edge of legal conduct. She cost the cruise line, tourism suppliers and taxpayers thousands and thousands of dollars. She ruined the vacations of 2,000 passengers, for whom this was an expensive "prank."

If that is the best defense that Byrne can produce -- that Ferguson was just "being a teenager" -- she might want to consider a field more appropriate to her skills.

Pua Kealoha
Washington, D.C.
Part-time Hawaii resident

Politicos still won't face economic reality

There are important lessons to be learned about Hawaii's tax situation from both the recent legislative session and the ongoing city budget debates. The first lesson is that the majority party still doesn't acknowledge that government does not create wealth; it consumes wealth. The private sector creates the wealth.

Despite Hawaii's decade-long economic slump, government increased the amount of wealth it took from the private sector. That tells me that our politicians are either ignorant or arrogant about economic principles. The most obvious examples are the long-term care tax and the mayor's wish to raise property tax rates.

But the more important lesson is gleaned from all of the tax credit bills that were introduced, some of which passed. By creating tax credits for selected parts of our economy, government can manipulate the economy. If that is a good thing, then why has our economy done so poorly? Wouldn't it be better to give everybody credits through tax cuts, and let the free market repair our economy? Ah, but then the government would lose its clout.

All of those tax credit bills remind us that government is the principal broker for special interests in the state. High taxes make that possible.

Robert R. Kessler
Waikiki

Long-term care report settles many questions

"'This is a sad bill, it is a hoax,'" said Sen. Fred Hemmings, Republican (House) leader. 'It will pay only half of the cost and last for only a year. ... This will be a sad surprise to our seniors'" ("Elderly care tax bill passes," Star-Bulletin, April 30).

Auwe! It seems as though neither Hemmings nor his staff has read "The Hawaii Long-Term Care Financing Program: A Report of the Temporary Board of Trustees in accordance with Act 245, 21st Legislature, 2002, State of Hawaii, November 2002" -- nor have they attended any of the public presentations by the temporary Board of Trustees to the Legislature and the public. I did both.

A read of the subject report would answer many of the alleged problems Hemmings cites in the bill, as the report explained the basis for the bill based on existing long-term care insurance companies' assumptions and actuarial findings; e.g., the $70 a day and the duration of a year.

This is a serious problem that will get even more urgent as our population ages. It needs to be addressed soon. I do not see that the House and/or Senate Republicans or the Lingle administration have proposed another solution. Auwe!

T.J. Davies Jr.
Kapolei

'Sunset' events good for families, Waikiki

I am 12 years old and go to Kaimuki Middle School. I am writing to you because I am concerned about the possibility of funds being cut from the Sunset on the Beach activities. I think this is one of the best things that Mayor Harris has done for the local and tourist families. It brings people together to enjoy the beach and the Waikiki area. People who normally never go to Waikiki now make the trip just for Sunset on the Beach.

I think we need to keep this activity for the families of Hawaii.

Thomas Chong
Boy Scout Troop 141