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Small Business News June 2003 | Lead Photo & Story
Two dynamic and outstanding women will be featured speakers at separate events hosted or co-sponsored by Small Business Hawaii. Deborah Micek (left), and her husband John Paul of RPM Success Group will be the featured speakers at this month's Small Business Sunrise breakfast on Thursday, June 26. A few days before that, nationally renowned legal investigator Erin Brockovich will speak at the American Business Women's Association (ABWA) - Imua Chapter luncheon on June 22. The event being held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom is being co-sponsored by SBH. Details of these events appear in this month's Small Business News.
The just concluded (May 1) 22nd State Legislature had some positives, and quite a few negatives during the 60-day Session. Small Business Hawaii members who were actively involved in this year's legislative process from mid-January, gave the Session mixed reviews, and the general consensus was that the Session be graded a "C-." (See separate ratings for each of the 76 lawmakers). Supporting the new Lingle Administration, SBH advocated those measures that would enhance Hawaii's overall business climate, while opposing increases in taxes, fees, regulations, employer mandates, and those bills that would increase the size and cost of state government. The Governor's pledge to focus on restoring confidence in government through ethics reform, educational reform through decentralization, and economic reform through an "open for business" posture, were the guiding benchmarks. Unfortunately, most of the Session was spent trying to kill off bad legislation, including the payroll tax for Long Term care (which passed), a 12.5% increase in the General Excise Gross Income Tax, a new 1% county sales tax, other taxes (UI, Conveyance, Passenger Facility Charge, etc.), fees ($10 more for motor vehicle registration, $20 for textbooks, etc.) and employer mandates. The "successor employer" bill was defeated againăbut it will be back next year. Tax reform to the employee leasing industry met defeat by the Democrats for the 6th straight year. The $7.4 billion, two-year operating budget, was slimmed down but still is too big. At least, there was some success in fiscal restraint and ending "special" funds. The Hurricane Relief Fund was not (totally) raided, though $1 million was taken for "mitigation." The best part of the Session was Governor Lingle's active presence and her cabinet appointees. Of the 161 nominees for cabinet, boards and commissions, 159 were confirmed. Two U of H Regents were dumped 14-11. The new department directors are all over qualified and exceptional. Now, after the Session, they can get down to the business of departmental house cleaning. The Governor has 45 days from Session end to veto bills. She vetoed 2 before May 1 and signed 80 into law by late May. 125 more await action. She will aggressively line item veto pork in the Budget.
Download the June 2003 issue of Small Business News
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