SBH Sunrise
August 25, 2005
Jane Sawyer

Tuesday, August 9
East Oahu Breakfast Club
Hawaii Kai Golf Clubhouse
7 - 8 am

Tuesday, August 9
U.S. House Committee
Small Business Hearing
Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort
Starts at 9:00 am

Wednesday, August 10
City Council Hearing
Rail Tax Hearing
Kapolei Hale - Kapolei
Starts at 10:00 am

Tuesday, August 16
Aiea‚Pearl City Biz Association
Pearl Country Club
Noon - 1:30

Wednesday, August 17
SBH Monthly Board Meeting
SBH Office | 12 noon

Thursday, August 25
SBH Sunrise Networking
Jane Sawyer - US SBA
Macy's Pineapple Room
7 ‚ 8:30 am

SBH TV
Sundays 7:00 pm
Channel 54

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

ACTION ALERT:
CONGRESSMAN CASE BRINGING U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE
ON SMALL BUSINESS TO HAWAII FOR AUGUST 9 HEARING

Chamber of Commerce President Jim Tollefson testified in favor of the General Excise Tax increase at a City Council hearing on July 5. The next City Council Hearing on the GE Tax increase bill (#40) is August 10 at Kapolei Hale.

An Open Letter to Chamber of Commerce Members

Dear Chamber member or potential member:

The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii sold out the business community and taxpayers. Again.

By its vocal, organizational and financial support of the largest tax increase in Hawaii's history - HB 1309 that allows for the General Excise Tax to increase 12¹/2% from 4 to 4.5% - the Chamber joined labor unions, the Democrat Party, big, subsidized businesses, and other special interests, while opposing every other major business organization in opposition to the tax.

Hawaii is already one of the highest taxed states in the Nation. Business bears the brunt of the taxes. For a business organization to propose further tax increases is incredible. Small Business Hawaii (SBH) believe that the city and state should live within their means, as we all must do in our business and personal lives.

From 1990 through 1993, the Chamber also supported a 12¹/2% percent tax increase for a rail transit project. That project was defeated because the voters had the good sense to turn against the project as one we could not afford. But for their good sense, the Chamber's actions would have led to an increase in our taxes. In 1997-98, the Chamber again sided with government and the Cayetano ERTF, which would have raised the GET. The Chamber has supported other tax and fee increases as well, such as the Unemployment Training Fund Surcharge. The Chamber also has sought, and received taxpayer funds to operate its own private programs.

Small Business Hawaii has consistently taken a principled stand against increased taxation. SBH has never supported tax increases, only tax decreases. SBH has never taken any taxpayer subsidies to operate its business programs. SBH also opposed the creation of the Unemployment Compensation Tax Employer Training Tax Surcharge while the Chamber supported it.

To strengthen SBH's pro-business, anti-tax actions, and your own business' well being, we urge that you join Small Business Hawaii now . SBH is committed to support you.

Our cost is only $175 annually ($300 for two years) and all businesses pay the same dues, from the largest corporation to the smallest sole proprietor. Each has one vote in SBH's policy agenda and member affairs. It ensures that no company has undue influence over our policies.

Your biggest benefit in joining SBH is knowing that you belong to a group that you can rely on to fight for you against more new taxes, and for private enterprise approaches to solving our problems.

We urge you to send in the membership application found in our newsletter and on this website. Pick up the phone, call 808-396-1724, or email me. Join us today.

You know what SBH stands for and we won't let you down.

Aloha and Mahalo
Sam Slom, President & Executive Director

SBA's Jane Sawyer
to Speak at August SBH Sunrise

Hawaii's US SBA's Jane Sawyer will speak at the SBH Sunrise Networking Breakfast, in the Pineapple Room, Ala Moana Center on Thursday, August 25, from 7 to 8:30am. Her topic will be "New SBA Financing Options for Small Business."

Sponsor for this month's SBH Networking Breakfast is member Aloha Petroleum Company.

Last month, members heard from Roy's Restaurant GM, Rainer Kumbroch who spoke on the topic of "How to Coach Your Employees to Provide World Class Customer Service."

A buffet breakfast, program and networking are all included at Sunrise. A free exhibit area is available for members to promote their business with brochures, samples and other items.

Members can also present brief introductions for their business.

The public is welcome -- Free parking on the 4th floor of Ala Moana Shopping Center near the Pineapple Room. Cost is $20 for SBH members paid in advance. It is $30 for non-members and at the door if space is available.

Be sure to clip and send in the adjacent form on this page with your payment to Small Business Hawaii. For more information call SBH at 396-1724.

DOWNLOAD THE ONLINE RESERVATION FORM AND SEND IT IN TODAY!