LEGISLATORS CAN, MUST CUT PUBLIC WORK PAY

As conference committees are now meeting to discuss Hawai'i's budget dilemma, I have asked legislators that unionized employees concede to wage or benefit reductions to help balance this year's budget. The answer to this request was "it is the governor's responsibility to balance the budget through the collective bargaining process."

We, the Hawai'i State Legislature, should not yield our authority or responsibility for creating the budget to the executive branch of government and collective bargaining. After speaking with the attorney general, I have verified that it is constitutionally within our jurisdiction to prepare a budget that would restrict or reduce the pay for public workers. We do not need to yield to the dictates of collective bargaining.

I once again plead that legislative leaders consider an across-the-board 5 percent pay cut for all receiving paychecks from the state of Hawai'i. By rudimentary calculations, this alone would save taxpayers more than $150 million a year. There is no doubt in my mind that, through innovation, we can reduce state spending, balance the budget and prevent layoffs of government workers without further damaging Hawai'i's distressed economy with massive tax increases.

TAX HIKES ARE FAIREST WAY TO HELP

Tim Wong's arguments in his April 14 letter ("State workers should be ones to take cuts") don't make sense.

Mr. Wong complains about having to pay GET and his own medical premiums, but didn't he know that when he chose to go into business for himself?

When public employees choose to work for the government, it is under certain conditions — our earnings will be modest, but we will receive a certain level of benefits in return for our dedicated service. For your information we pay a portion of our medical premiums.

On top of that, he doesn't seem to see the big picture. If he thinks raising the GET would bankrupt businesses, what does he think giving us government workers, 75,000 of us, a huge pay cut will do? Does he think after receiving a pay cut, we're going to want to spend money?

Tax increases are the fairest way for everyone to be doing a little more to help just one or two pennies on a dollar. I, too, am a taxpayer. And when a business like yours passes on the GET increase to me, I'll be the one who ends up paying a little more. So what are you complaining about?

VOTERS SHOULD HOLD OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE

Are you paying attention, voters? I hope so, and I also hope your memory is longer than the term lengths of our elected officials.

At both the federal and state levels, our representatives are continuing to spend money they don't have (but plan on receiving through increased fees and taxes from us) instead of doing what we have been forced to do in these times — cut back and spend efficiently.

At the federal level, the administration has proposed or passed more spending than the U.S. government has spent in total since our independence. At the state level, our legislators are proposing additional fees and increases in taxes in these already challenging times.

If people are having a difficult time now (unemployment at record levels, tourism down to record lows, foreclosures at an all-time high, etc.), how do our legislators think we can afford additional fees and taxes? If our elected officials aren't concerned and listening to us in these challenging times, they never will. Pay attention to who voted how on these pay raises, additional fees and taxes, and hold them accountable when they come up for re-election — vote them out!

CELL PHONE BAN

MAHALO TO THOSE WHO SUPPORTED BILL

I want to congratulate the Honolulu City Council for doing something the state Legislature has not been able to do. The measure to ban cellular phone use while one is driving is a public safety issue that will make our roadways safer.

There are other distractions for drivers; however, cell phone use while driving appears to be a growing concern that has been appropriately handled. Although this measure will not be effective statewide, the Neighbor Island councils would be very wise to pass similar legislation for their counties. Mahalo to all City Council members who supported this bill.

DRUG-SNIFFING DOGS

WHY OPPOSE KEEPING SCHOOLS DRUG-FREE?

I find it interesting that some people want to keep the dogs from sniffing anywhere the drugs are apt to be in our schools.

Are these parents in denial who don't know how to handle it if their children are found to have drugs at school? Or are they people more interested in "civil rights" than the safety of our children? Are there teachers who bring drugs to school? Please, give me a good (common-sense) reason for not doing everything possible to keep drugs out of our schools.