AKAKA BILL

ENLIGHTEN US ON PART ON LAW NEGOTIATIONS

It is good to learn that Sen. Akaka has added back to his Native Hawaiian sovereignty bill provisions assuring us that the new Hawaiian government will not be allowed to bring gambling to Hawai'i.

Perhaps the senator could now explain to us the intention of the part of his bill that requires "negotiations" between the new government, the state, and the federal government over "civil and criminal law."

Clearly, such language would not be in the bill if it was intended that native Hawaiian citizens of the proposed new government would continue to be subject to all existing Hawai'i and federal civil and criminal law.

So just which existing civil and criminal laws does the senator think need to be changed? And why?

LEGISLATORS' RAISES

LAWMAKERS SHOULD TAKE A CUT INSTEAD

In the 2009 Hawaii Pork Report published by the Grassroot Institute, page 19, it states that the legislators upped their salaries from $35,900 to $48,708, plus $10,200 in personal allowance. This is for part-time duties from January to mid-May. Yes, some work full time, but many don't.

Anyway, with the economy tanking, the Legislature is looking at cutting some government employees to help offset the $900 million budget shortfall. Or the governor wants to cut the wages of the state employees 5 to 10 percent. Both solutions are being done by the private sector already. When either employee or their wages are cut because of the economy, the officers of those companies are taking pay cuts the same or more than their employees. So what's wrong with this picture?

Mayor Mufi Hannemann announced plans to cut his staff pay by one day a month, so if the city can do it, why not the state?

I wonder if the City Council got raises besides the Legislature. In any case, both should reject the increases and take a cut instead.

HEALTHCARE

DASCHLE, OTHERS NEED TO WALK THE TALK

Tom Daschle's op-ed column March 22 makes me wonder. Here, Tom Daschle cannot even pay his own taxes and he wants to tell us how to live our lives. When people enter the political arena, especially the public life of our nation's capital, then they should walk the talk.

I do not think the government can continue deficit spending; I view the continuous deficit spending as unhealthy for our long-term economy, as in bankruptcy and insolvency.

At the very least, if government is set on giving us universal healthcare, then it should be phased in gradually.

STATE WORKERS

HGEA NEEDS TO TAKE A REALITY CHECK

In reponse to Gov. Lingle's proposal to cut state workers' pay and benefits to help balance the budget, HGEA Executive Director Randy Perreira says, "Our problems aren't caused by the cost of public employment" but rather "the lack of tourists that are coming to Hawai'i." (Advertiser, March 26). Huh? What would he suggest? Hold a gun to people's heads and tell them they better come to Hawai'i and spend money or we may have to reduce the cost of our government?

Maybe he should take a page from the private sector unions' negotiating book and have meaningful, honest and realistic expectations that are at least a compromise for both parties.

Yes, I am a private union member and, believe it or not, our members actually get laid off when times are bad! It's a great concept for not bankrupting your employers.

Perhaps it's time we put our foot down on unrealistic HGEA demands and change the policies to reward hard-working employees and lay off nonproductive ones (and there are many of both).

AIG BONUSES

EXEC'S LETTER MADE RIDICULOUS STATEMENT

Jake DeSantis, a vice president of AIG, today (March 25) wrote an interesting open letter to the newspapers. In it he pointed out how he deserved his $1 million-plus bonus but added that, "Some might argue that members of my profession have been overpaid, and I wouldn't disagree."

How ridiculous! It's time for the American taxpayer to protest such statements. Company executives, even though they make millions while many workers make only minimum wages, deserve every cent they receive for the great job they are doing in making capitalism work so well.

STATE BUDGET

LINGLE COULD BE TARGETING PORK AT TOP

Having just moved back to Maui from three years on O'ahu, we missed The Advertiser so much that we started daily delivery.

Having been a regular reader of Lee Cataluna's column, I read with interest her take on Gov. Lingle's recent decision to use the bailout funds intended for the schools to help with the state budget.

Our daughter is a teacher at Maui High, so I know too well how the budget cuts hit her planning for next year. With cleverness and belt tightening, she managed to get her requested budget in on time, with money to spare. It wasn't easy, but it was possible.

Having been born and raised in Hawai'i, I know too well how the DOE has not been as crafty in their planning and budgeting as some of their teachers need to be.

Perhaps Gov. Lingle's message to the high mucky-mucks is to cut the pork at the top, which has sucked much of the money that should be going towards programs at the bottom of the education pyramid in order to pay the salaries of too many administrators.

By the way, maybe being governor doesn't allow the luxury of time to read to keiki in the cafeterias or attend May Day programs.

I know that as mayor of Maui, Linda took the time to help tutor students in reading at Makawao School, down at the roots where it was really needed, quietly and not for "show."