PRIORITY ISSUES

REDUCE EXCESSIVE TAX BURDEN AND COST OF LIVING ON HAWAII RESIDENTS

1. SUPPORT ALL RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HAWAII CONGRESS ON SMALL BUSINESS ANDIMPLEMENT PRIVATIZATION AND COMPETITIVE DELIVERY OF ALL GOVERNMENT SERVICES

2. ACCELERATE THE DOWNSIZING OF HAWAII'S GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY

(A) Reduce the number (68,000) of state employees to 1986 levels by attrition, consolidation and privatization.
(B) End the "High Three" retirement policy for State Employees.
(C) Eliminate all non-bid public projects and enforce open,
objective standards for bids. Require penalty and incentive provisions for every contract in excess of $1 million.
(D) Require Long Range"Economic Fiscal Impact Statements" for ALL bills.
(E) Enforce Constitutional spending ceilings.
(F) Abolish non-essential state agencies; sell off excess state office buildings; end subsidized employee parking.
(G) Mandate merit in addition to seniority in all union/civil service employment contracts.

3. ENACT OMNIBUS WORKERS' COMPENSATION REFORM

(A) Support HAKU Alliance, Hawaii Congress on Small Business, and House Small Business Caucus proposals, and adopt Medical Trust Account legislation to achieve a minimum 30% premium reduction.
(B) Actively prosecute fraud; assign Deputy AG to represent the public including employers.
(C) Repeal the "Presumption Clause."
(D) Support Private employer-administered mutual fund option for "assigned risk" small businesses.

4. REDUCE THE TAX BURDEN ON ALL HAWAII TAXPAYERS/CONSUMERS

(A) Oppose ANY tax or user fee increase; reduce existing tax burden on all residents and business.
(B) Repeal General Excise Tax on services, exports, home food and health care; tax all commissions at .015%
(C) Amend County Charters to mandate a single property tax rate for all property.
(D) Reduce Income Tax top rate of10%; increase income level to $100,000 or above for single taxpayers.

5. AMEND HAWAII'S PREPAID HEALTH CARE AND MANDATED BENEFITS LAWS

(A) Cut mandated health costs; require employees to contribute up to 50% of premium; enact medical IRA law.
(B) Oppose new payroll or income taxes for Long Term Care or other mandated benefits.
(C) Allow "cafeteria" choice of care options, standard "premium only" plans and plain English billing.
(D) Encourage "wellness" by premium incentives for employers and employees.
(E) End employee enrollment in more than one employer-paid plan simultaneously.
(F) Enact effective tort reforms to lower health care costs.
(G) Require the State to cover all public employees, the same as
private employers.

6. REFORM THE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION TAX AND FUND

(A) Oppose Unemployment Compensation tax hikes; reduce taxable wage base to $7,000, and end abuses.
(B) Cap the UI reserve fund at "adequate" $100 million and retain needed capital in Hawaii.
(C) Sunset the Five-Year State Unemployment Employee Training Fund 1/2% Tax.
(D) Repeal the "right" of strikers and volunteer-quits to unemployment benefits.

7. DEREGULATE ALL TELECOMMUNICATIONS, TRANSPORTATION AND TRADE AND REPEAL LEGISLATION PERMITTING PUBLIC MONOPOLY OR RESTRICTING FREE AND OPEN COMPETITION.

ADDITIONAL ACTION ISSUES

* Accelerate SCBM and decentralization of Public Education; encourage non-union, and parent school maintenance.
* Adopt an Independent Contractor statute recognizing an individual's right to be a non-employee.
* Remove zoning and other barriers to home businesses and decentralized work locations.
* Support term limits for all elected officials in Hawaii; Federal, State and Local.
* Increase available residential and light commercial/industrial land by:

(1) eliminating the Land Use Commission;
(2) amending the current mass property appraisals which penalize commercial occupants;
(3) requiring the State to release a minimum 2 - 3% of government-held land annually,
(4) abolishing the HCDA and
(5) removing government totally from housing and land development.

* Eliminate legal, liability and tax barriers to encourage private, voluntary child care facilities.
* Continue support for direct statewide Initiative, Referendum and Recall.