SMALL BUSINESS BURDENED BY TAXES

No more taxes!

Gov. Lingle has a tough job trying to be responsible and accountable for the finances of the state. Yes, the governor is faced with furloughs to keep from firing thousands of government employees. But she also has a responsibility to see to it that the private sector is not unfairly burdened with carrying the cost of government employees.

The union leadership and some legislators are advocating taxing the private sector more to save the government employees from furloughs. The fact is, Hawai'i small businesses employ more than 70 percent of the workforce in the state. The employees of Hawai'i small businesses are already having their hours reduced, and many are being temporarily laid off until the economy picks up. In other words, small businesses and their employees are being burdened enough in these difficult economic times.

It is time for the union leadership and our state legislators to step up and have their constituents do their part in carrying their fair share of the burden of all of our economic woes. The situation is only temporary. Please, no more taxes!

To all small business owners and their employees, it is time for you to put your destiny in your own hands. In 2010, vote for Republicans and Democrats who will look out for small businesses and their employees.

Ron Agor, small-business owner | Lihu'e, Kaua'i

SPARE WORKERS; RAISE GENERAL EXCISE TAX

I am deeply saddened and thoroughly confused by the governor's recent solution to the state's budget problems. Her bullying tactics do not make these crazy proposals any easier to accept. The sheer magnitude of the people who will have to suffer these furloughs will definitely have an adverse reaction on our economy. With a nearly 14 percent pay cut, many state workers will simply not have any money to spend. This, in fact, will stifle our economy.

The governor has left no room for negotiations, either. It's more like an ultimatum: Either take the furloughs or face sweeping layoffs.

To all of the workers who are faced with these furloughs, I humbly say thank you for continuing to provide our state and our children with the services that we so poorly pay you for. To the governor, I say that I would rather pay a higher excise tax than see these people suffer.

We act as if the excise tax is the golden calf that we cannot sacrifice, yet we raise taxes on everything else. So again, I am deeply saddened and thoroughly confused by the governor's " budget proposal."

Jerome Nihipali | Honolulu

FEDERAL FUNDING FOR UH CONTRACTS AT RISK

According to the National Science Foundation's Division of Science Resources Statistics, more than $200 million of federal funds are brought to Hawai'i each year for research and development, most of which are spent on worker salaries.

The anti-stimulus effect of furloughing workers paid on these funds would mean less salary money spent by the workers in the state economy, but the impact would not stop there. The overhead charged on federal grants is based on expenditures, so the general operating funds available to institutions such as the University of Hawai'i would also be reduced. Furthermore, Hawai'i will become less competitive in obtaining future federal funding when it becomes clear we do not meet our contracted commitments.

The tradition of solidarity among workers is a workers' initiative, to be applied by their own volition, not to be cynically exploited by the governor in her battle with workers, especially when it works against the stated purpose of initiating furloughs in the first place.

Dan Suthers | Honolulu

HEALTH CARE

UNIVERSAL SYSTEM A SOLID INVESTMENT

I watched with horror the "Graying of Hawaii" program on PBS, which aired June 18. I learned how some of Hawai'i's sick and disabled are forced to move to other states because we do not have enough beds to accommodate them, how many want to come back to Hawai'i but are unable to do so.

As much as we fight against government involvement in our daily lives, it has been proven over and over that some social programs need government intervention. Such as the case with health care.

It is time that we support the universal health care system in the United States. I have had very good experiences with the health care system in Australia, where my now-deceased mother was taken care of superbly by the government, including protection of her assets.

Enough already with the scare tactics that we are heading toward socialism. So what, if it does good for the people? Some argue that they pay high taxes, which is true, but knowing that I have health and long-term care itself is an investment, providing that it is managed properly. Sure is cheaper than paying private long-term care insurance!

Rosita Sipirok-Siregar | Makakilo

VEHICLE WEIGHT TAX

MONEY USED FOR ROADS, ETC. — NOT RAIL

Your June 14 article about the motor vehicle weight tax increase approved by the City Council correctly noted that revenue from this source may be used to fund "the acquisition, designing, construction, improvement, repair and maintenance of public roads and highways" and "purposes and functions connected with mass transit."

However, it is important to understand that this revenue will not be used for the city's rail-transit project.

The tax helps pay for such needs as road repaving, pothole patching, upgrading driver and pedestrian safety features, and the city's bus system.

The local funding source for the rail-transit project is the general excise tax surcharge authorized by the state.

Despite the poor economy, the city is providing safe roadways and reliable public transportation, and the motor vehicle weight tax provides a stable funding source to ensure these needs continue to be met.

Dana Takahara-Dias | Director, Honolulu Department of Customer Services