Your Dec. 27 lead editorial ("User fees a useful tool if carefully controlled") is yet another example of The Advertiser turning a blind eye to the economic and fiscal realities of both the governor and the Legislature.

You argue, "One can hardly blame the Cayetano administration for its exploration of higher user fees as a way to balance a badly strained state budget."

Be advised that this "one" can and does argue with this five-year-old policy of using fees to raise revenues without regard to actual costs of providing the services or materials and without acknowledging that these services have already been paid for by the taxpayers.

You cite the Bureau of Conveyances as a good example. Have you forgotten the Legislature increased the conveyance tax substantially - one of the nation's highest - two years ago?

I have spoken against, and voted no, on almost every proposed fee increase during my three years in the Senate. (The Advertiser doesn't cover this.) At hearings, I ask the proponents for actual cost figures and for the rationale of the increase. In nearly all cases, the cost data are lacking, and the primary justification for the increase is either, (1) "We haven't had an increase in five years," or (2) "Other states charge as much or more." Not good enough for an overtaxed populace.

The Advertiser says it's OK to use the fees for the budget if "carefully controlled." Pray tell, who will do the controlling? The Democratic governor? The Democratic Cabinet and agency personnel? Or the Democratic Legislature?

There are no controls in a one-party - or one-newspaper - state, as the votes of the past several years clearly indicate. We're out of control.

And what about that "badly strained state budget"? Depends on what day of the week - or what campaign is taking place - to hear from this administration whether the budget is in "surplus" or "deficit." There is little truth in its budget message. The only "strain" is on the backs of Hawaii's overburdened taxpayers.

The governor - with the Legislature as willing accomplice - in order to bloat spending, has raided special funds, enacted a "payroll lag," stolen public retirees' benefits and hiked user fees as "tools" to failed budgetary and economic policies.

To condone these policies is shameful; to laud them is fiscally criminal.

Sam Slom
Minority Floor Leader
State Senate 8th District