Constituents voice concerns
| • | Legislators plan tax breaks |
By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
As legislators prepared for the special session that begins today, some heard plenty from their constituents, their neighbors and strangers on the street.
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Many legislators say more people have approached them to talk about their concerns and share their suggestions than in any other recent time. Some report an increase in letters, calls and e-mail.
Rep. Mindy Jaffe said people are very concerned.
Political newcomer Rep. Mindy Jaffe said she's received more e-mail from constituents and that she could barely get through a grocery store at 11 p.m. one night without fielding questions and comments about this week's special session.
The emergency meeting of the Legislature was called by Gov. Ben Cayetano to develop plans to deal with the jarring economic downturn that followed the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the Mainland.
"Four people stopped me in the produce section," said Jaffe, R-19th (Waikiki, Kaimuki, Diamond Head). "People are stopping me and saying, 'Hey, what are you guys doing for us?' People are very concerned."
According to interviews with legislators from across the state, constituents appear to support the ideas already on the table: more support for workers in the tourism industry and reinforcing the social safety net by taking such action as extending unemployment benefits.
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But legislators say there seems to be little support for Cayetano's proposal to spend $1 billion on public construction projects or to tap into the Hawai'i Hurricane Relief Fund.
Sen. Avery Chumbley urged action.
"They have their ideas; they want to know what we're going to do," Jaffe said. "What's really kind of cool about this is this is the most public input and interest that I've seen in a long time. I think people are looking really closely at their elected officials to see who's doing what and who's saying what."
Jaffe also said her constituents support ideas to give free or heavily discounted airline tickets to visitors who spend at least a certain number of days in Hawai'i.
"They clearly understand that our focus should be on helping the tourist industry and specifically the airlines to get back on their feet," she said. "I've got a lot of comments about that."
Sen. Avery Chumbley, D-6th (E. Maui, N. Kaua'i), said "countless" people — even those outside his district — have approached him with suggestions.
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"A lot of people are concerned that the Legislature needs to take action to do something, and I think that there is some fear in the public's viewpoint that we're not going to be bold enough, that we're not going to take action in a significant way that will bolster the economy," he said. "This is a special session like no other special session in the past."
Sen. Matt Matsunaga said it's still safe in Hawai'i.
Aside from assisting people who are struggling financially because of the aftermath of the attacks, much of the feedback has emphasized the importance of supporting the tourism industry, Chumbley said.
"Obviously, people say, 'Hey, we want to see more construction,' but time and time again people say, 'You need to support ... the Maui Visitors Bureau and do the advertising campaign that will get people back to Hawai'i,' " he said. "That was probably the No. 1 comment that I got from the public."
Sen. Matt Matsunaga, D-9th (Wai'alae, Palolo), said one person suggested attracting younger Japanese tourists here with a concert featuring Japanese pop stars. Matsunaga passed that idea on to the Hawai'i Tourism Authority.
"I think the theme is, one, to try and convince people that it's still safe in Hawai'i," he said. "And No. 2, to encourage kama'aina to spend their money in Hawai'i."
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Matsunaga said he hasn't seen an increase in e-mail or phone calls about the special session, but that "I get quite a few suggestions wherever I go."
House Majority Whip Brian Schatz said people think $1 billion is too much.
"Some people are concerned about those most vulnerable, those losing their jobs; and people are concerned about small businesses," Matsunaga said.
He said one man from his health club faxed him a suggestion that tax breaks be given to less affluent people instead of the wealthy because they are more likely to put that money back into the economy rather than save or invest it.
Matsunaga also said people who attended a recent neighborhood board meeting in his district criticized the governor's idea for spending $1 billion: "It floated like a lead balloon."
House Majority Whip Brian Schatz, D-24th (Makiki, Tantalus), said his office hardly received any e-mail or calls about the special session.
But he said: "I think the message heard loud and clear (is) people feel that $1 billion is too much to borrow, but they want to see significant investment in education.
"We're getting input from our constituents, but frankly I think that people are more concerned with what's happening in Afghanistan and Washington, D.C.," he said. "People are concerned more about international and national issues."
Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.
