June 2006 | Small Business News
Small Business Views
By Sam Slom, President and Executive Director of Small Business Hawaii
No work comp, UI, tax, medical malpractice or regulatory relief; that sums up the 2006 Legislative Session for business which adjourned May 4. (A detailed analysis of the Session begins on page 3.) A heavy effort to beat back a new "streamlining Internet" tax and a $100 million tech legislative "super fund," succeeded on the last day. A cigarette tax increase and an expansion of the bottle tax did pass while another attack by the so-called "clean" elections people - who want to use your tax funds to have politicians run for office - failed.
An Unemployment compensation tax bill which started off good - reducing the current $34,000 an employer must pay UI tax onto the federal level of $7,000 - was manipulated by House and Senate Labor chairs, Rep. Kirk Caldwell and Sen. Brain Kanno so that business groups, including SBH, originally in support, have asked the Governor to veto the bill. She has until July 11 to act.
Best of the session: law enforcement initiatives, alternative energy and assistance for the homeless.
Best and Worst lawmakers of the Session was debated with Sen. Ron Menor (the gas cap champion) winning hands down as the worst. Other close contenders include Sen. Roz Baker, Sen. Brian Kanno, and Rep. Blake Oshiro. Among the Best could be, Sen. Carol Fukunaga (she fought for the Queen Street merchants), Sen. Donna Kim, who actually killed a Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) on time share owners in her Senate Tourism committee (sadly it was killed in the House and the unfair tax remains), Rep. Lynn Finnegan, Rep. Sylvia Luke , Sen Paul Whalen and Sen. Gordon Trimble. Ratings of all 76 Legislators for their business stance in 2006 starts on page 4.
Former State Rep. and Minority Leader, Gene Ward being wooed to return and run for his old state house seat in Hawaii Kai He works for U.S. AID as Peace Corps Project Director in East Timor and he, and all Americans, were recently removed from the country because of continued fighting and revolution. He would feel right at home in the Legislature again if he returned .
Business won't have to worry about the Legislature again until next January. However, campaign season is well underway (the candidate filing deadline is July 25) and sign waving will be everywhere.
Congrats to U.S. Rep. Ed Case (D) who voted to support middle class taxpayers and small business with support for an extension of current tax reductions; Sen. Dan Akaka voted against taxpayers and small business.
The Aloha Care lobbying effort for Quest medical coverage during the session was epic. It pitted the Human Services Director, Lillian Koller, who fought for and won "positive enrollment" to save taxpayers money, against AlohaCare, its lobbyist, Bob Toyofuku, PR firm McNeil Wilson and the Rev. Frank Chong.
GO Airlines, the new kid on the Interisland air block, commences economical air service on June 9. More choice for flyers.
It's official, fake Native American, anti-American professor, Ward Churchill is a liar and a fraud. The University of Colorado released results of its investigation of the allegations of Churchill's academic fraud and plagiarism in a 125 page report (www.colorado.edu/news/reports/churchill). HawaiiReporter accused Churchill of fraud during his paid visit to the University of Hawaii in March.
Lots of SBH business events in June: The WikiWiki Networking with Joe Lopez is Wednesday, June 7. See page 6.
SBH's June 22 Mid Year Business Conference at the Ilikai features Mark Recktenwald of DCCA, Tax Director, Kurt Kawafuchi, Labor Director, Nelson Befitel and others. Luncheon keynoter is State Attorney General Mark Bennett. Reservation form on p. 9.
On June 29, the monthly SBH Sunrise will focus on Networking with SBH's favorite dynamic motivational coach, Pam Chambers. Reserve today! Form's on page 8.
"Broken Trust - Lessons Learned" a special SBH public forum on Wednesday, July 5 at Hale Koa features Randy Roth, Judge Sam King, US Rep. Ed Case, newsman David Shapiro, former Campaign Spending chair, Bob Watada and Hawaiian activist attorney Beadie Dawson.
We're still looking for a few good men and women as membership sales associates. Call me personally at 396-1724.
A reminder that if you need advice or answers to your business, labor, or tax questions, you can always get assistance from SBH. Call 396-1724 or email sbh@lava.net.
Don't forget to regularly check our website at www.smallbusinesshawaii.com for updated employer alerts and events.
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