Last Day of May

May has not been a good month if you are concerned about cost and surviving in the State of Hawaii. The legislature wrapped up its 2009 session and socked the people with more taxes. People are going to have to pay more for hotel rooms, property sales, gasoline per gallon and penalties on higher incomes. The City & County of Honolulu are entertaining higher property taxes and more gasoline taxes so that they can keep their operations going as well as financing the $7 billion train system.

Instead of taxing the people more government should continue to downsize itself by cutting programs and yes, even personnel.

Meanwhile over at the State Capitol, the state is spending at least $330,000 to reburbish the two state seal medallions that were hanging outside the building. Each seal weighs about 7,000 pounds each and both were lowered and moved to an area outside the capitol for cleaning and refurbishing. They are expected to be re-hung later this summer.



The Hawaii Superferry declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy this month after its operation was forced to close down by the Hawaii State Supreme Court, a bunch of environmental wacko groups headed by the Sierra Club of Hawaii, and overzealous politicians who have hated the ferry service from its inception. Not surprisingly all of Hawaii Superferry's assets were recently auctioned off in Honolulu and the 2 ships have not yet found a new place to sail. Superferry will not be coming back to Hawaii.

Speaking of bankruptcies, the Chrysler Corporation went into Chapter 11 on April 30 and tomorrow, June 1, General Motors will go into Chapter 11 bankruptcy too. The people have long ago made up their minds about American made cars. The quality wasn't there, the imports were better built. Import brands offered vehicles that consumers wanted vs.the lackluster cookie cutter type of vehicles offered by Chrysler and GM. The financial downturn certainly did not help automakers and other segments of our economy. People have adjusted and are simply not spending.

But that is what happens when government wants to make our lives more expensive. We cut back. Save for another rainy day, which seems to be plentiful in these painful economic times.

Photos: Top workers remove State Seal from State Capitol. 2nd photo: Hawaii Superferry's second ship, Huakai sits idle near its manufacturing plant in Alabama. Superferry went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy this month. I am sure the environmental wackos are happy.

Blame Democrats For This

When headlines say "Lawmakers" push gas prices (or taxes) higher, it usually means DEMOCRAT lawmakers. They are the number reason for some of Hawaii's higher costs. Why do we keep on electing the same jokers into office who always want to take more of our money via high taxes? Time to stop this nonsense. We need lower taxes.

• Lawmakers Push Gas Prices Higher

Lessons Learned

CUT SPENDING CUT SPENDING CUT SPENDING

From the Friday5.org website comes today's 5 questions under the title "Lessons". I'm posting this here as well as on my Tumblr Blog where the Friday 5 responses are supposed to be posted. But since these questions may also have some political implications, the answers are also posted here.

The Friday 5 for May 22, 2009:

1. What kind of out-of-school lessons did you take as a kid?

I went to Summer Fun and Summer School for a few years which taught us some lessons beyond the scope of regular school. In Summer Fun we went hiking and learned about the environment; played a few sports to learn about physical fitness and we even had wood shop classes where I actually made small wood items that my Mom keeps to this very day. That was fun and I learned how to use some hand tools like the jigsaw and hammer. One year, the Peace Corps came over and taught us during a few weeks of summer school. It was mostly catching up with basic concepts of math, reading and social studies.

2. What valuable lesson did you learn this past week?

Not exactly a lesson, but something I'd like to pass along to the readers. Despite your testimony at the city council or legislature against something at both the city and state government levels, when politicians in Hawaii make up their minds, they generally don't listen or care about peoples' testimonies, no matter how great the number are in opposition to something like raising the gasoline or other taxes. If you go to a public hearing, you may get tons of people speaking up in opposition to something yet the legislative body still votes in the opposite direction from what most of the testifiers say. Also even if we have something set down in state law like a ban on same sex marriage, we have snakes in the legislature who want to go around the law and grant civil unions to gays despite how the majority of people voted for on the issue years ago. Same in California... the people voted against tax increases and now the state government there wants to convene a constitutional convention to take away the peoples' rights to the initiative process.

3. Who in your life really needs to be taught a lesson?

Politicians (Democrats) who go against the will of the people. The best lesson they can be taught is to simply vote them out of office at the next election cycle. Sadly many people have memories that are way too short and end up voting nearly the same tired bunch of liberals (Democrats) back into office every election. Hopefully the voters can remember the pain the politicians dragged us through this year with the passing of higher taxes and putting the civil unions proposal back on the front burner and threatening traditional marriage.

4. What kinds of lessons would you love to have a private teacher for right now?

I need lessons on how to install my own WordPress blog at my own domains.

5. What steps have you taken to lessen the impact of these rough economic times?

Unlike the government I and most people have learned how to cope with the tough economic times by cutting spending. Sadly we have to cut more of our personal spending because big mean government want to take more of our money away through higher taxes on the county, state and federal levels. Raising taxes during a downturn in the economy is not the way to help the people and stimulate the economy.

Sadly cutting spending and cutting unneeded government programs is something our state, counties and the fed have not done enough of during these tough economic times. For example, why do the state and feds continue to fund programs that support the arts? The arts are something that is "nice to have" but certainly not a necessary service when compared to things such as police and fire protection, national defense and maintaining our transportation infrastructure. Government has not learned how to cut gigantic, expensive capitol projects that only benefit a small slice of the population like fixed rail.

It is an injustice to everyone that government does not make deeper cuts in these tough economic times. All of the fiscally responsible people and businesses have long ago made cuts and adjustments to the tough economic times. Cutting spending, reducing debt and even getting rid of personnel are things business and individuals continue to do. Government can and should learn more from the people by simply listening and following our example.

Governor Lingle Vetoes Tax Increase Bills

Governor Linda Lingle vetoed 3 bills that will increase taxes on people and entities making over $150,000, hotels and tourists, and real estate purchases over $2 million. The Democrat party tax bills will negatively impact Hawaii's taxpayers and visitors at a time when the economy is in "the tank". Hundreds of people showed up yesterday, May 7 for this public veto signing, the first for the Lingle administration.

Unfortunately, Democrats in the Legislature have vowed to override the vetoes and increase taxes. Isn't it time to dump the tax loving Democrats?

ADDITIONAL LINKS & INFORMATION

• Governor Linda Lingle Vetoes Tax Increases, HawaiiReporter.com
• Lawmakers Ready with Overrides, Honolulu Star-Bulletin

HB 444 May Show Its Ugly Head Again

Traditional marriage is at risk in Hawaii. Despite Hawaii having an amendment written into its constitution (Article 1 Sec. 23) that "the legislature shall have the power to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples," the law is being skirted with the so-called Civil Unions Bill (HB 444). The bill which has been "stuck" in the Senate Judiciary & Government Operations Committee since February of this year may become law if liberal Democrats in the State Senate take it up for a vote again.

Led by the charge of Senators Gary Hooser, Les Ihara and possibly Brian Taniguchi, chair of the Senate JGO committee, the bill may be pulled at the last minute and voted to the floor in these waning hours of the 2009 Legislative Session.

Opponents of HB 444 are urged to show up at the State Capitol Senate session anytime today (May 7). Session will start at 10:00 a.m. and will probably continue into the afternoon and possibly into the early evening. The color for opponents to wear is red (as shown in the photo above) to distinguish themselves from the rainbows the gay people wear.

Those who cannot make it to the session are urged to call or write to their Senators. All of the Senators listed below need to be contacted and urged to not pull HB 444 out of committee.

Senators who are highly likely to support HB 444 and vote it out of committee and possibly into law:

• Gary Hooser - 586-6030
• Les Ihara - 586-6250
• Rosalyn Baker - 586-6070
• Carol Fukunaga - 586-7335
• Michelle Kidani - 586-7100
• Suzanne Chun Oakland - 586-6130
• Kalani English - 587-7225
• David Ige - 586-6230
• Dwight Takamine 586-7335
• Clarence Nishihara - 586-6970
• Russell Kokubun - 586-6760
• Wil Espero - 586-6360
• Brickwood Galuteria 586-6740
• Clayton Hee 586-7330
• Brian Taniguchi - 586-6460
• Jill Tokuda - 587-7215
• Josh Green - 586-9385
• Colleen Hanabusa - 586-7793
• Donna Mercado Kim - 587-7200
• Shan Tstusui - 586-7344

Anyone who votes in favor of HB 444 should not be re-elected to office in 2010.

Tell Governor Lingle to Veto all Tax Increases

The following is from Dick Armey at FreedomWorks.org.

Tell Governor Lingle to Veto all Tax Increases

Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle is moving in the right direction on taxes, but we need to show her that there is overwhelming support for vetoing all tax increases that the state legislature passed this session. Please TAKE ACTION to send a letter to Gov. Lingle, asking her to veto all tax increases.

Also, Gov. Lingle has invited taxpayers to come to the state capitol on Thursday, May 7th, to voice their concerns over taxes. This is your best opportunity to make your voice heard! If you can make it to the state capitol, please come out at 3:30pm, and bring your family and friends. Together we can take a stand against higher taxes and out of control spending, and defeat all the tax increases on the Governor's desk.

Sincerely,
Dick Armey
Chairman
FreedomWorks.org

Governor Will Veto 3 Tax Increase Bills

Governor Linda Lingle will veto 3 tax increase bills tomorrow, May 7 at the State Capitol. The legislature, led by a huge majority of Democrats will probably override her vetoes the next day.

Here is the Governor's press release:

Governor Linda Lingle is inviting members of the public to join her at the State Capitol on Thursday, May 7, at 3:30 p.m. to express opposition to legislation that will raise taxes on residents, visitors and businesses; cause further job loss; and delay our economic recovery.

On April 23, the Legislature passed five bills (SB1111, HB1741, HB1747, HB895, and HB1175) that will extract a total of $116 million in 2010 and almost $150 million each year thereafter from the pockets of our residents and visitors. The Hawai‘i State Constitution requires the Governor’s decision on these bills by midnight, Thursday, May 7.

Governor Lingle will veto the following tax increases on Thursday:

SB1111 – Increases the transient accommodation tax by 28 percent adding to the cost visitors and residents pay when staying at hotels, time-shares, bed & breakfasts, and motels.

HB1741 – Increases by up to 257 percent the conveyance tax home buyers, businesses, real estate developers, charities, non-profit organizations and other purchasers of all residential and commercial real estate must pay for transactions over $2 million.

HB1747 – Increases the personal income tax rate on 36,399 Hawai‘i income tax filers, sole proprietors and small businesses (S-corporations and partnerships) that file their business income as personal income. There are over 20,000 S-corporations, partnerships and sole proprietorship in Hawai‘i, which includes approximately 6,000 sole proprietors.

The Governor is still reviewing tax increases on cigarettes and tobacco products passed by the Legislature.

“I presented the Legislature with a plan to balance the budget and close an unprecedented $2 billion revenue shortfall without raising general taxes,” said Governor Lingle. “The Legislature ignored my plan and voted to raise taxes anyway. This was unnecessary and unfair to Hawai‘i residents. On Thursday, May 7, I will issue my vetoes. I invite members of the public to join me when I turn down these measures and ask for their support in urging the Legislature not to override my vetoes.”

The Governor plans to issue her vetoes in a public forum with the opportunity for members of the community to fully see and understand the basis for her decisions. This compares to the practice of the Legislature who render their decisions late at night, frequently behind closed doors, and without the opportunity for public scrutiny.

The tax increase measures currently pending the Governor’s action will adversely impact an already weakened economy. According to the latest monthly survey of visitor accommodations, Hawai‘i hotel occupancy sank to a more than two-decade low in March, with about one-third of all hotel rooms empty. Home prices have dropped 8.5 percent, and unemployment is at a 31-year high of 7.1 percent. Many are concerned that the economy will get worse in the months ahead, and that downward decline, if exacerbated by increased taxes, will accelerate by increasing the cost of living in Hawai‘i and discouraging visitors from coming to Hawai‘i.

It is hoped that the Governor will veto more tax increase bills in the coming weeks and hold the Democrats at the legislature responsible for creating all of the bad tax bills that increases costs for everyone including residents, visitor, the military and business in Hawaii. NO MORE TAXES!

Photo: Taxpayers were out in force on April 15 protesting against increased taxes. Hopefully many can return to witness the Governor vetoing 3 huge tax increase bills tomorrow.