The Hawaii Supreme Court's 5-0 ruling in Konno vs. Hawaii County in March seeks to obliterate all privatization and economic choices by the Counties and State in Hawaii. The ruling mandates the State to only use civil service (unionized) employees) and this affects private contracts, independent contractors and prisoners sent to Texas. The suit was instituted by union domo, Gary Rodrigues, who Rick Hamada of KHVH radio refers to as "Hawaii's Most Powerful Man." Need more proof? The March 24 Supreme Court ruling (again 5-0) that the voters in November were not entitled to a Constitutional Convention even though a majority voted for it. Rodrigues instituted this action too with his labor buddies who dominate the court. Gary is riding high because nearly all lawmakers and business people are afraid of him or enjoy the benefits his laborers and compulsory union dues provide them.

By the way, these justices, as well as the ones who coddle our violent criminals, want a pay raise from the taxpayers. Yeah, right!

It's tough times for all of us including the 44 year old non-partisan Tax Foundation of Hawaii and community treasure trove of financial knowledge, Lowell Kalapa. Hawaii must retain the independent Tax Foundation by private means. There is no alternative to the unbiased and factual tax information it provides everyone in this state. KHVH radio and Small Business Hawaii will mount a major fundraising effort to preserve this community asset. Big business, as usual, isn't stepping up to the plate, but they always step up to give big bucks to big politicians.

For example, Walter Dods, First Hawaiian Bank chief and major Democratic Party player, hosted 350 people at a $1,000 per plate dinner at his home for Dan Inouye. Wonder if they served pork?

Cayetano, Dods and former Governor John Waihee were among the not-so-exclusive list of big buck donors who slept in Motel 1600 (Pennsylvania Avenue), aka The White House. Presumably the trio did not have to sleep together, nor at the same time.

Our Governor continues to hire more spin doctors to help him "get the message out." But Bishop Estate's Elyssa Yadao first said yes, then said no, and didn't come aboard.

New tough Federal drug labeling laws are aimed at making it easier for people to understand those "confusing" labels. Tough words are being changed by mandate. For example, "medication" becomes "pills;" "discard" is so difficult, we'll label it "throw away." More evidence of growing illiteracy and the continual dumbing down of America.

Hawaii's professional welfare lobby advises Isle taxpayers to pay even higher taxes to guarantee the comfort of their "clients," our new special class. Thanks, but no thanks.

Jobs? We're told we need 15,000 new jobs for welfare recipients, in addition to the 35,000 trained, experienced and enthusiastic private sector employees, who have lost jobs here in the past 18 months. But the State is doing nothing to insure that jobs will be created. It's really simple: CUT TAXES, REDUCE MANDATES and ELIMINATE UNFAIR REGULATIONS. Otherwise, no jobs, no taxes.

SBH Success Awardee, Judy Nakai, wanted to help. She had three construction jobs open and called the State Department of Labor. They didn't get back to her. She called again. They told her how busy THEY were, and understaffed too. Her call to DOL Director Lorraine Akiba finally brought a response, but no jobs have been filled. Welfare and unemployment are a great source of jobs and income - for professional, paid government and special interest bureaucrats.

In late March, Standard & Poor's, one of the nation's largest credit rating firms, downgraded Hawaii's bond rating based on its fiscal performance and perceived difficulty in paying off its debt, now ranked 2nd highest in the U.S. on a per capita basis. S&P put Hawaii on a "credit watch" for several months and many people, including SBH, warned that this would happen. It will affect the state's ability to issue bonds and will increase interest paid. The state's answer? Float another $1 billion in debt to "jump start" the economy. Will we learn?

Mayor Jeremy Harris' hare-brained idea for a 3% sales tax, on top of our General Excise Tax, is no cure. He says he'll remove the property tax and only the tourists will feel the pain. Don't believe it. No New Taxes!

The Guv didn't like the Council of Revenues estimate so he had DBED appointee Dr. Seiji Naya give him a "better" estimate. Why not an SBH estimate? A GOP estimate?

State Librarian Bart Kane is at it again: close the libraries is his answer to the fiscal shortfall; cutting Kane may be a better option.

In terms of priority, animals stand first in line. No one could have written a joke as funny as the Marin County (CA) government officials who disqualified the County's Science Fair winner last month because of his "cruelty to animals" - fruit flies (a few expired).

April is tax month when we file annual returns. In reality, the government already has (and spent) our money in advance through forced withholding and estimated payments. Tax Freedom Day, the time when you and I have paid all our taxes for the year, and start working for ourselves, is not until next month.

Comments about anything you read in Small Business News can be addressed to:

Small Business Hawaii
Hawaii Kai Corporate Plaza
6600 Kalanianaole Hwy., Suite 212
Honolulu, Hawaii 96825
Telephone: (808) 396-1724
Fax: (808) 396-1726

SBH also accepts articles relating to small business issues about its members and Hawaii. Submit your articles to SBH by the 10th of the month for publication into the next month's issue.

E-Mail: macpro@lava.net
E-mail forwarded to SBH via local fax.

Small Business News is part of The Hawai`i NewsList family of internet features. Select this link for more information on how to subscribe.

Editor: Sam Slom
Web Page Keeper Upper Guy: Melvin Ah Ching
Hosted on Honolulu's Most Popular Web: H4, Hawai`i's Data SuperHighway