GOP: STATE OF STATE - CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR

There is much in the Governor's State of the State address that the Republicans can agree with particularly his continued emphasis on civil service reform. We also agree that our education system needs upgrading and new infrastructure. But the real problems are not the buildings for the timeliness of constructing new buildings. It's really not all about money, but about money management as reported by the auditor's office.

We can also agree that selling Hawaii as good place to do business and that we need to change our marketing strategy. Again it's a good try but no cigar. In order to sell Hawaii as a good place to do business, we have to make Hawaii a good place to do business. In this regard we must start with tax relief so our economy can grow. Our Republican plan to eliminate the 4% GET on food and medical services will help spur the economy. It doesn't matter how good your marketing plan is, if our residents are having a difficult time, how will any business be able to count on them for a business base? Encouraging business begins with helping the business already established.

We are pleased with the Governor's shift in philosophy that emphasizes drug treatment instead of incarceration. This concept fits well into the Republican plan for a correctional treatment facility.

The Governor spoke of being bold, that Hawaii needs bold action. Again he is right, but very little in his speech was very bold. In fact, his proposal to deposit the Hurricane Relief Fund into the state "rainy day" fund and using the interest for UH scholarships may be looked upon as bold, but in fact, it does two wrongs.

The Hurricane Relief Fund belongs to the people who paid for that coverage. They did not pay for a college education fund, nor did they pay to have the state hide the money for something called a rainy day.

If the governor wants to be bold, he should address the needs of the people of our state. We don't need a rainy day fund, we need textbooks in our schools, we need tax relief for our families, and we need to pay teachers what they deserve.

-30-