Small Business Hawaii | Volume 23 Number 6 | June 1998
Sam Slom is also a State Senator from the 8th District (Waialae Iki to Hawaii Kai)
and has a website at this URL: http://hotspotshawaii.com/sam/slom.html
Sam Slom is also a State Senator from the 8th District (Waialae Iki to Hawaii Kai)
and has a website at this URL: http://hotspotshawaii.com/sam/slom.html
WE did it together! The small business community and allies defeated the "most powerful movers and shakers in our state" (the Governor's description) who we battled over the proposed 34% increase in the state's General Excise (gross income, not "sales" tax) from October until May. Victory, despite the power of the three most prominent political leaders, largest banks (Bank of Hawaii and First Hawaiian), public employee unions (United Public Workers and Hawaii Government Employees Association), arm-twisting and threats of economic and political reprisal, and nearly $1 million propaganda PR campaign. This time the little guy (and gal) were heard loud and clear. Thanks is due to many people, including small business and trade associations, nonprofits, and certain private sector unions, who banded together in opposition to the special interest organizations. To Rick Hamada and KHVH radio, Billy Sage, the Honolulu Realtors® and even the 25-members of the State Senate - including President Norman Mizuguchi, who can read handwriting on the wall better than his other political associates. The phone calls, faxes, letters, e-mails and rallies were inspirational, and successful. Much of this energy once unleashed will continue again in the General Election on November 3. The 1998 State Legislature adjourned after several extensions, conveniently the day after the Miss Universe contest held in Honolulu, and in the early morning hours preceding the final Seinfeld episode. Whew, that was close! Taxpayers have got to learn they should lock the lawmakers inside the Capitol, turn off the air conditioning and require lawmakers to give back salary (rather than MORE salary) if the Session doesn't end on time as it should. The unprecedented march of the four county Mayors in support of privatization from Honolulu Hale to the Capitol in May was unique in Hawaii's political history. About 150 citizens joined the Mayors. A bill finally passed. Now that most of Hawaii's few remaining big businesses are reincorporating in Delaware, Desmond Byrne of Honolulu Information Service (and Common Cause) wanted to know exactly why. One good clue he found is the state's business motto: "Smaller, Quicker, Smarter." Now what do we have to do to get that attitude in Hawaii to improve our business climate? Unfortunately, the CEOs of the businesses setting up in Delaware have been big supporters here of the 40-year old monopoly party and its cast of visionless characters. The Republican State Convention May 16-18 featured Arizona U.S. Senator John McCain and Mayor Brett Shundler of Jersey City. He was the first elected Republican Mayor in that City in 100 years and the first Mayor in 30 years to be reelected, based on his record of economic revitalization and hope. He reminded elected officials that the voters are not their customers but their bosses. Governor Ben Cayetano gave everyone the "thumbs up" that Hawaii's economy would turn around since, he said, "the leaders of Asia are concerned about improving their economies." Too bad our leaders aren't as concerned. Amid free food, drink and entertainment, the Cayetano relection HQ was opened May 18 with a speech blaming Republicans for blaming him for the 7 years of economic spiral. Kitty Lagaretta may become more influential now that she engineered the employee takeover of the local Hill & Knowlton advertising firm restoring the original Communications Pacific name. Lagaretta is known for writing some of the best political speeches including the famous Dr. Richard Kelly "revolution" speech of 1997. She's helping Linda Lingle. Former City Managing Director Robert Fishman left the City to "spend more time with (his) family," just at the time the Feds seem to be closing in on the Ewa Estates financial scandal in the Mayor Jeremy Harris Administration. In politics as in life, timing is everything. Harris by the way still hasn't told the campaign spending commission what office he will seek with the millions he is raising in fundrasisers. He and others have until July 21 to file. Former State Senator and Bishop Estate employee Milton Holt's bar exploits and expense account padding have become legendary. With the IRS getting closer to sending him to jail, Holt's naming of state lawmakers who accompanied him to hostess bars several years ago was classic: he at first included Norman Mizuguchi, who was not a political ally, then corrected the story to name deceased Senator Richard Matsuura (who was neither a Holt nor hostess bar fan, saying, he (Holt) knew the name started with an "M." Meanwhile, Holt associate and former Senator Donna Ikeda is back at the Capitol in a lobbyist's role. The $350 million state Convention Center (which bars local groups and which was not technically suited to host the Miss Universe pageant) opens this month amid an expensive gala bash paid by taxpayers. The disclosure that the State has paid millions of bucks in federal taxes NOT due since the 1950s, and only recently sought reimbursement, was explained by a state official as, when times are good, people may not be as concerned about every expense. Half this year will soon be history but as we start the month observing Small Business Week, we know the next half can prove to be the start of revolutionary change in Hawaii.
SBH SUNRISE
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Editor: Sam Slom
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