The 22nd State Legislature convened Wednesday, January 21, for its 60-day session that lasts until May 6. Battle lines were drawn early: education reform, taxation and business issues.

A Constitutional amendment to change the bloated education bureaucracy, bills to increase taxes, new government programs requiring more spending, and millions to deal with the ice drug problem in Hawaii are on the front burner. So too is a contentious session as Democrats try to block any more gains by Republican Governor Linda Lingle and gird for a battle for control of the House during the upcoming November elections. No leadership changes are anticipated from last year.

All bills from 2003 are technically still alive. Among them are proposals for a county sales tax and a payroll deduction tax to fund long term care. Among new bills introduced are a revival of the photo red light camera program, an increase to the general excise tax to fund a fixed rail mass transit system, elimination of the corporate income tax, reforms to the State Prepaid Health Care Plan and the repeal of the binding arbitration process for unionized state workers. Workers compensation reform includes tougher fraud penalties.

The public and business community are urged to visit the capitol to testify for or against those bills that will impact your lives, family, pocketbook and business.

The Senate Minority of which I am a member recently unveiled their legislative package for the year. New bills introduced this session address a diversity of issues ranging from the repeal of the gas cap due to take effect on July 1, (SB 2178), gasoline dealers divorcement law (SB 2179), an exemption from the Prepaid Health Care Act for businesses with fewer than 15 employees (SB 2181), medical tort reform (SB 2183), removal of ground transportation services from PUC oversight (SB 2186) and a bill to repeal the binding arbitration law for non-essential public employees (SB 2194).

This session I introduced several new measures including reforms to the motor carrier act for taxi operators (SB 2093, SB 2094), child support reforms for reservists called up to active duty in a war zone (SB 2143), adoption of a firearms concealed carry law (SB 2398) and reduction to the personal income tax (SB 2707).

Two carryover bills that I introduced last session to note: SB 1038 which bans foreign substances in your drinking water passed out of the Senate last year and still awaits a floor vote in the House. If you are interested in supporting this bill, please call or email House Speaker Calvin Say at 586-6100 to have this added to the floor calendar.

SB 442, Victims Notification Rights, has been stuck in the House Judiciary committee since last year. Call State Rep. Eric Hamakawa at 586-8480 and ask him to give this bill a hearing. It passed unanimously in the Senate last year.

The bill introduction deadline is tomorrow, shortly after which a list of all bills I introduced this session will be published.

Governor Outlines Major Objectives

Governor Linda Lingle outlined her administrations major objectives for this legislative session during her State of the State speech yesterday. She outlined her plans for education, health care, strengthening the economy, the environment and building safer communities.

The centerpiece of the Governors agenda is the passage of a constitutional amendment that will endorse the decentralization of the public school system. Legislation is needed in order to place this proposal on the ballot this coming November.

Governor Lingle also touched upon the establishment of a statewide education standards and accountability board, empowerment of school principal, discipline by teachers for unruly students, and more funding for the public schools.

Among the other major issues brought out in her speech are her continued support to offer tax credits for people who buy their own long term care insurance, several measures on getting tough on drugs and crime, reforming health insurance laws and amending the prescription drug program. The Governor also pledged to spend $20 million in the next 4 years to address the problem of invasive species in Hawaii and raising the standard income tax deduction over the next 3 years to equal 50% of the federal standard deduction.

I support the Governor on these measures.

The Governors 2004 legislative initiatives are available for downloading and viewing at her website: www.hawaii.gov/gov.

The 2 articles posted here are taken from
Senator Slom's Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board Report, January 27, 2004.

Photo above: Governor Lingle addresses a joint session of the House & Senate

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