GMO Food Labeling – HB 174 Deferred

By State Senator Sam Slom

House Bill 174 – GMO food labeling – Imposing labeling requirements and import restrictions on imported genetically engineered produce was heard on Thursday, March 21.The bill authorizes labeling of non-genetically engineered food. HB 174 was not going to be heard until Senate leadership changed their minds at the last minute and assigned it to the Agriculture, Consumer Protection and Health Committees on March 19, two days before the double referral deadline. The hearing was held 2 days later in the morning for 2 hours starting at 10:00 a.m.

Hundreds of people lined up to testify at the hearing, only to see the bill deferred by the end of the day. A Senate Concurrent Resolution will commission further study on the issue of food labeling.

I did not support this version of the GMO food labeling bill after the State Attorney General issued an opinion that “GMO labels have been pre-empted by the federal government,” it violates both the First Amendment (commercial free speech), and the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution.

Senator Slom would have had 3 “no” votes on HB 174 had the bill come to a vote. The reason? Senator Slom is a member of all Senate committees and thus eligible to vote in this case in Agriculture, Consumer Protection and the Health Committees. He is shown at the HB 174 hearing with majority Senators Baker, Nishihara and English.

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March 27 – Floor Action: Session Day #39

The State Senate passed 7 House Bills on a number of subjects. Senator Slom voted in favor of all of them except for HB 848 HD2 SD1, which is an “Obamacare” bill on health insurance. The Hawaii Primary Care Association testified that in the first draft of the bill, “small employers were listed as those having 100 employees or less. Under the most recent House Draft, that number was lowered to 50, a figure that does not coincide with federal requirements under the Affordable Care Act…”

The 50 employee figure is still retained in the Senate draft. The bill will go to conference committee.

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March 25 – Floor Action, Session Day #38

Ten World War II soldiers from the 442nd Regimental Combat Team were recognized by the Hawaii State Senate on March 25 during the regular floor session held in the Senate Chamber. The group of combat veterans accepted a framed certificate on the commemoration of the regiment’s 70th Anniversary. Photo by the Hawaii Senate Majority office.

The Senate also confirmed 2 individuals:

GM 667 – Curtis Saiki to the Board of Taxation Review, 1st District

GM 702 – Jose Diogo  to the Board of Taxation Review, 4th District

The Senate also passed HB 776 HD2 SD1 (Government Tort Liability) on a floor amendment motion that was approved at the previous session (Day #37). The vote was unanimous at 22 – 0 with Senator Slom voting with the majority.

Agenda & Platform of the Senate Minority for 2013

State Senate Minority (SSM) leader Sam Slom (R-9 O’ahu) released the agenda and platform of the Senate Minority for 2013:

“So that there is no mistake, or confusion, and our position is clear and apart from both the Executive and Majority Legislative branches, I am addressing several special initiatives for this session,” Slom said.

“The Senate Minority continues to believe, based on our independent professional analysis, that Hawaii’s economy has not ‘turned the corner,’ ‘rebounded,’ or improved across the board, with the exception of Hawaii’s visitor industry which has posted record gains. However, construction has not rebounded, and retailing, wholesaling and manufacturing, remain flat. Future major federal assistance is in doubt with the death of Senator Daniel Inouye. Real personal income and our residents’ ability to pay more has not kept pace with rising consumer prices. Therefore, the Senate Minority absolutely and unapologetically opposes any tax, spending or debt increase.” Selected SSM Positions (for a complete listing go to http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov or senateminority.wordpress.com.)

• SSM SUPPORTS “A Better Day” For Isle Residents: SSM believes we should enhance local residents’ standard of living by reducing government, lowering taxes, improving the small business climate and offering consumers more competitive choices in the market place.
• SSM SUPPORTS an Alternative, Slimmed Down, Balanced State Budget Based on Realistic Economic Outlooks: Instead of showing increases of 8% and 11% in budget growth over the next two fiscal years, and adding back social welfare programs and 3,000 more public employees, the SSM budget, which will shortly be on-line, will show programs and activities that should be cut out of the budget in order to balance the budget and make it affordable to Hawaii’s taxpayers. Needed services will be prioritized and not cut while underperforming and wasteful programs will be eliminated.
• SSM OPPOSES the Governor’s increase in the state minimum wage by $1.50 to $8.75 an hour. The minimum wage is an entry, training wage, and not tied to productivity. Only a small percentage of Hawaii’s total workforce receive the minimum wage. It takes choice away from employers and penalizes good workers. A higher wage actually destroys jobs for those seeking a start because an employer pays additional mandates tied to the wage including, matched social security, medicare, unemployment, TDI, workers’ compensation and training. Smart Business Hawaii (SBH) estimates these costs add another 30-35% to the basic wage.
• SSM SUPPORTS Repayment Into the Hurricane Relief and Rainy Day Funds, and the Pay Down of Unfunded ERS & EUTF Liabilities. SSM Supports the Administration’s fiscal promise to fully repay these funds and reduce our crippling worst-in-the-Nation unfunded liabilities.
• SSM OPPOSES the “Sugary Beverage Tax” The Governor and State Department of Health continue to pursue a tax on beverages containing sugar. Interesting that Hawaii once had a thriving sugar cane industry. The proposal is to add 1¢ per ounce for all beverages with sugar in order to stem childhood obesity. SSM believes it is the parents’ responsibility to take care of their own children, to regulate intake of all foods and beverages, encourage physical activity and limit use of cell phones and electronic equipment. Money collected would be on top of existing General Excise and Beverage Deposit taxes in Hawaii and further penalize lower income consumers, hurt business and their employees, and grab the extra money for the General Fund, unrelated to obesity.
• SSM OPPOSES the Governor’s Early Education initiative. This is the latest version of previously state-subsidized pre-Kindergarten schemes that all failed. The proposal does not add more facilities or resources, just shifts the estimated $32 million (to start) funding from individuals who should be responsible for their own children, to all taxpayers. The State has a terrible record of educating K-12 government school students and should concentrate on improvement there before introducing any new subsidy programs.
• SSM SUPPORTS Real Government Transparency, Including Initiative, Referendum, Recall and Term Limits SSM continues to support and encourage maximum citizen input (IR&R)
• SSM OPPOSES the Public Land Development Corporation (PLDC): SSM believes the PLDC is fatally flawed, denies citizen input, exempts the state from its own environmental laws, takes prime agricultural land and forces people into Transit Oriented Development (TOD) high density units.
• SSM SUPPORTS Major Reforms in the University of Hawaii: SSM believes that the 2012 Senate hearings uncovered several major management and financial flaws within the sprawling University of Hawaii System and supports all 18 Senate Committee recommendations, more transparency, and changes in the UH Administration governance, Board of Regents, and compensation and benefit packages.
• SSM OPPOSES the Undersea Cable and N.I. Wind Turbines: SSM supports voluntary, incentive driven alternative energy sources but opposes a $2 billion undersea electric cable and expensive wind turbines on Lanai and Molokai, in opposition to the views of residents, to help power O’ahu at an increased cost to HECO ratepayers.

Project Labor Agreements: Costly for Hawaii

By State Senator Sam Slom
Originally published in HawaiiReporter.com

Two months ago, on May 22, 2012, Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie issued an administrative directive for use of Project Labor Agreements (PLA) for state construction projects. Most residents are not aware of this action or the enormous future impact PLAs can have here.

Abercrombie explained, “ the State of Hawai’i will use PLAs on a variety of construction projects in order to address obstacles that might arise due to a lack of labor coordination.” The Governor added, “A Project Labor Agreement provides a mechanism for collaboration on certain projects to prevent potential conflicts among labor unions. Our local economy has shown signs of improvement, but we cannot afford to lose this momentum by prolonging projects from getting done in a timely manner.”

Those “obstacles,” and “lack of labor coordination,” is code for: we don’t want a free, competitive government project process; we want union-only guarantees.

Five specific and costly ($519.9 million total) state projects were identified for PLAs by the Governor:

(1) University of Hawai’i – Hilo College of Pharmacy; a $38 million project
(2) Princess Victoria Kamamalu Building: Total project estimated cost is $32.9 million
(3) Maui Regional Public Safety Complex: Total project estimated cost is $225 million.
(4) Ewa Elementary School: This $11 million project
(5) Honolulu International Airport Mauka Concourse Project: Estimated project cost is $213 million.

As expected, Hawaii unions applauded the Governor’s action. PLAs provide the compulsory building and trades unions even more of a stranglehold on public projects at the expense of non-union, merit shops.

Actually, unions have tried for decades to get legislative approval of PLAs. Former State Senator Cal Kawamoto, was a champion of unions and union shops. During his Senate tenure, he annually introduced bills, resolutions and riders to other bills to sneak in Project Labor Agreements. He was an outspoken and passionate PLA supporter. He came close but did not succeed. Now, the Governor basically has trumped the legislature and did what they wouldn’t do.

But are PLAs good for Hawaii?

Where Senator Slom Stands on the Issues: An Update

Updated July 5, 2012

The following is Senator Slom’s views on a number of hot topic issues:

Issue	Position
$9.03 Billion + Fixed Heavy Steel Elevated Rail (Train)	NO
2nd Amendment: “Castle Doctrine”	YES
2nd Amendment: Concealed Carry / Open Carry	YES
Agricultural Lands – Protect	YES
Akaka Bill	NO
Alternative Energy (Solar/Wind/Geothermal) – Voluntary Incentives	YES
Deregulate HECO Electric Monopoly	YES
Ban Totally: Plastic Bags	NO
Beverage Container Recycling Tax	NO
Budget – Adding New Special Funds	NO
Compulsory Fluoridation Of Public Water	NO
Decreasing General Excise Tax	YES
Decreasing Personal Income Tax	YES
Definition of Marriage – Man & Woman only	YES
Education – Decentralized School Boards	YES
Education – Merit Pay For Teachers	YES
Eliminating Estate “Death Tax”	YES
Eliminating GET On Food & All Medical	YES
Gas Cap	NO
Hurricane Relief Fund – Return $ To Premiums Payers	YES
Initiative / Referendum / Recall	YES
Ka Iwi Resort Development in Hawaii Kai	NO
Lanai / Molokai Big Wind Turbines for Electricity to Oahu	NO
Undersea Electric Cable ($2-$3 Billion)	NO
Legalize Gambling	NO
Medical Marijuana For Severely Ill	YES
More Compensation/Benefits For Police Officers	YES
Partial Birth Abortions	NO
Physician Assisted Suicide	NO
Raising Taxes	NO
Reduce Unemployment Tax	YES
Rights Of The Unborn	YES
Solar Water Heaters Compulsory	NO
Barrel Tax on Petroleum	NO
Tax on Pensions	NO
Term Limits for Legislators	YES
Traffic Van Cameras / Red Light Cameras	NO
Truth in Accounting Legislation	YES
Unicameral Legislature	YES
Union Card Check	NO
Workers Comp – Increased Cost to Business	NO
UH Tuition Subsidy for Illegal Immigrants	NO
State Bank (Taxpayer Funded)	NO
Exempt State/County Development Projects from Environmental Process	NO
Hawaii Health Connector Exchange (Obamacare) Conflicts	NO
Sugary Beverage (Soda) Tax/Ban	NO