The 23rd State Legislature is scheduled to adjourn May 4 and there is still no tax relief, even though the estimated state cash surplus has surpassed $600 million. Debate continues on hot button issues such as internet taxation, the bottle bill tax, VEBA trust, prevailing wages, language access and the ever so present gas cap law.

As the session heads into the home stretch, senators and representatives from both houses are now in process of meeting in conference committee to decide the fate of all bills still alive before the final voting days of May 2 and 4. After April 11's second crossover votes, the following bills are still alive. Some of those that I voted "no" on are listed here:

HB 2419: This bill became the vehicle to open internet transactions to state taxation after the original measure died earlier in the session. The lengthy bill was passed after a floor amendment was made to a previous version.

HB 1242: This is the bill opposed by Hawaii Right to Life and other pro-life groups that expands Hawaii law to accept people from out of state to get an abortion here. We all love the keiki, but the majority feel that the keiki don't have many rights if they haven't come out of the womb yet. This bill passed out of the legislature and awaits action before the Governor's office.

HB 2454: The Legislative vacancy bill was passed to reduce the powers of the Governor when it comes time to fill a vacancy. Currently the governor can appoint anyone she pleases from the party in which the vacancy occurs. The new bill if passed into law will require the governor to pick a name from a list provided by the political party.

HB 173: If this becomes law, the only candidates eligible to become adjutant general will be those persons who have served at least 5 years in active service as a commissioned officer in the Hawaii National Guard. This will rule out equally experienced candidates who have served in other branches of the armed services. The Governor is expected to veto this bill.

HB 1948: This is the House version of the expansion of the bottle bill tax, if passed will apply the current 6 cent per bottle charge to containers of up to 69 ozs.

HB 2950: This bill for VEBA trusts for public employee unions will exclude retirees and push health care costs higher.

HB 2778: The language access bill mandates that government agencies provide documents written in languages other than English for those people who do not understand it. This will set a bad precedent for years to come.

HB 3115: This house bill was previously drafted as a way to repeal the onerous gas cap law. The Senate version amends the repeal to keep the gas cap tax mechanism in place when certain conditions take place. Not good for business or the driving public. The differences are still being worked out in conference.

SB 2166 HD: This bill went through 5 amendments and had an abortion clause written into the statute as part of medical care for minors. This will allow minors to have an abortion without notification of their parents. I voted "no" on this. The bill is now on the Governor's desk pending further action.

The Senate voted to recommit HB 3077 which would have authorized the issuance of a $10 million Special Purpose Revenue Bond to fund Rosette Steel Hawaii. The proposed legislation stated the money would be used by Rosette Steel to assist "with technology-based manufacturing of steel products for the construction industry to assist in the development of affordable housing". The bill was recommitted after it was learned that the firm's chairman, Kevin Andrews had a history of misdemeanor criminal convictions and that he used an alias, Kevin Jeffries.

All bills have to pass out of their respective conference committees by midnight on Friday. For more information call our office at 586-8420 or check online at www.capitol.hawaii.gov.

Taken from the Waialae-Kahala Neighborhood Board Report #3, 4-20-2006