Murder of Unborn Brings Focus to Legislation

The murder of Tyran Vesperas-Saniatan and his unborn baby sister by the hands of his father Tyrone Vesperas on the Big island of Hawaii earlier this month has put focus again on the rights of the unborn. Mr. Vesperas can only be prosecuted for the murder of his son and not the unborn child, whom he killed when he tried to murder his estranged wife Cheryl-Lyn Vesperas.

The Senate Minority caucus has called for the passage of proposed legislation initially introduced by me and by the caucus to protect the lives of unborn children.

SB 206 and SB 1903 was introduced by myself and the caucus this session to address this issue after a unanimous Hawaii Supreme Court decision overturned the manslaughter conviction of Tayshea Aiwohi, who was found guilty in the death of her unborn son by smoking crystal methamphetamine shortly before his birth.

Both bills lingered in Senate Committees unheard this past session. Both will be carried over to the next session and are currently referred to the Human Services Committee chaired by Senator Suzanne Chun-Oakland and the Senate Judiciary Committee now chaired by Senator Brian Taniguchi.

Supporters of unborn children should call attention to these bills and others like them by contacting the committee chairs and asking them to hear those bills.

New bills to address the rights of the unborn are also being drafted by the legislature for next year. The Hawaii Supreme Court and the law do not recognize the unborn as human beings.

PAYCHECKS HAWAII Rates Legislators on Business Issues

Each year since 1986, PAYCHECKS HAWAII, the private, independent, non-partisan political action affiliate of Small Business Hawaii, rates each of the 76 state legislators on support for small business in collaboration with other small business associations, individuals, and those actively participating at the Capitol during the legislative session.

The ratings are based upon: (1) key business votes involving tax and fee Increases; (2) efforts to increase or decrease government size and spending; (3) employer mandates (e.g., workers comp, UI, prepaid health, etc.), labor bills affecting business (minimum wage, "meal breaks," etc.) and regulations; (4) conduct in hearings, accessibility, and response of the legislator, and (3) active sponsorship, introduction and advocacy of business climate positions.

Lawmakers are rated, regardless of political party, from #1, "most supportive and outspoken advocate for a better business climate," to #5, "least supportive of small business and an improved Hawaii business climate."

The State Legislature was given a grade of "F" for this session by Small Business Hawaii.