Small Business News
September 2005 | Online Edition
Small Business Views
By Sam Slom, President and Executive Director of Small Business Hawaii
Another blow to Hawaii small businesses: approval of a 121/2% jump in the regressive General Excise gross Income tax, approved on a 7-2 City Council vote Wednesday, August 10. Only Councilmembers Barbara Marshall and Charles Djou supported taxpayers by voting no on this rail tax boondoggle. A month earlier, Governor Linda Lingle, who could have stopped the tax with her veto, disappointed many by allowing the bill (Act 247) to become law after a closed door weekend deal with the state's leading Democrats.
To add insult to injury, gas caps in Hawaii (on the wholesale level) begin September 1. Another dumb idea from Hawaii socialist elected officials. The Governor said she could not act until business and individuals are actually harmed under the new law passed three years ago. (See story on page 1)
Lingle again joined mostly Democrat leaders to support the divisive Akaka Bill, spending more time in Washington, D.C. twisting GOP Senators' arms to support the bill which has not had public hearings or debate in Hawaii and raises many questions regarding land transfers, taxation, governance and gambling. Lingle again will be in DC to support a cloture vote to force Senate action on the bill in early September but like previous efforts it is predicted to be a failure. Reportedly, 2/3 or local citizens, including Native Hawaiians, oppose Akaka.
Meanwhile, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in SF struck down Kamehameha Schools' admission policy as being "racist" and in violation of U.S. civil rights laws. Appeals are ongoing. Supporters of Akaka feel that would protect them and Hawaiian government entities, such as OHA, from federal challenge. My personal opinion: I oppose Akaka and support the school as a private institution deriving financial support from a private will independent of taxpayer subsidy.
State bank commissioner, Nick Griffin, has approved Pacific Rim Bank, the first new state-chartered bank in Hawaii since statehood (1959), to operate in Hawaii beginning November 1. Austin Imamura is the CEO.
The Hawaii Uninsured Project Hawaii Institute for Public Affairs will present a forum discussing employer mandates and rising Premium Costs, titled "Health Care Coverage in Hawaii: Turning Point or Tipping Point?" October 17, 8am - 1:30 pm at the Hawaii Prince Hotel. For info call 585-7931 ext. 101.
The Wall Street Journal's John Fund was a special speaker August 4 at an SBH Leadership Circle luncheon at Tiki's Grill & Bar. Grassroot Institute hosted Fund for another talk August 5 at Pearl Harbor's Arizona Visitor Center. Fund attended the Kamehameha Unity Rally on Saturday, August 5 that drew more than 10,000 marchers. Fund has written several stories recently about taxes the Akaka bill, and Hawaii's social changes.
Orson Swindle, former Federal Trade Commissioner, retired in June of this year after a distinguished and vocal position on the FTC. What's next for Swindle - election?
Identity theft continues to be a major problem nationally and in Hawaii. The Lingle Administration and DCCA have launched an educational program in the media to help stop id theft (see story on page 6).
Economist Dr. John Rutledge, SBH Annual Conference Keynote Speaker in 2004, is now a regular on the Fox TV "Cavuto on Business" and "Bulls & Bears" programs on weekends. He is one of several regular panelists and joins special guests like Steve Forbes and Ben Stein. John stands out for his wit and knowledge.
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii sponsored Josef Sima, Professor of Economics in Prague, Czech Republic as a speaker in late July. Sima is also on the staff of one of Europe's finest free market think tanks. Josef translated our own Ken Schoolland's book Jonathan Gullible into his language. Sima related some highlights in moving from total government control to a free market.
The Queen Street merchants, threatened by loss of parking and business by the HCDA and the state, picked up additional bipartisan legislative support in addition to SBH and Councilmember Rod Tam. State Senators Carol Fukunaga, Suzanne Chun-Oakland and Brian Taniguchi have held several recent meetings to help save the small businesses in Kakaako, abandoned by the HCDA and the Lingle Administration. HCDA continues to push the merchants aside in its plans to "revitalize" the area in support of large shopping center owners.
Join us at the September 29 SBH Sunrise at the Pineapple Room (Ala Moana Macy's) to hear Gary Johnson, former Governor of New Mexico, and a venture capitalist, who will discuss how he became governor - and still kept his business principles.
Don't forget to regularly check our website at www.smallbusinesshawaii.com
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