Monthly Archives: May 2003

I had a meeting with police officers at the Pearl City Police Station to discuss some safety and nuisance concerns in Waipahu. I explained some of my residents' concerns and the officers explained that they will especially keep an eye on those areas mentioned. In addition, I am working hard with the police to eliminate some of the drug problems in the community.

I presented letters and certificates for student leaders at Waipahu Intermediate School. The presentation was done on-camera to be broadcasted school-wide. I ate lunch with the students and conversed with them. I am especially proud of the work done by the student peer educators who help their classmates by educating them on issues such as drugs and teen pregnancy.

I recently came back from the bill signing for the Ko Olina Tax Credit, which was held at the Ko Olina Resort. Fortunately, our office got some of the House and Senate members who supported the bill to be there. Many of the Democratic legislators only found out last night because they were not invited or there might have been some miscommunication by the Governor.

I believe information should be shared with everyone regardless if they are proponents or opponents. Our office updates interested persons on measures, scheduling, process, amendments, etc.

In the beginning of the 2003 Legislative Session, my office put together some very helpful information and contact data. As a result, I was recognized by a “good government” organization called the Hawaii Pro-Democracy Initiative for good deeds.

I shared this information with Governor Linda Lingle at the beginning of the 2003 legislative session as I had high hopes for her. I remember excitedly going upstairs to the Governor's office to make an appointment so I could give her the information to help her get familiar with the Legislature. The secretary told me, they won't schedule me in person but rather, fax them my request for an appointment. I left the information and told the secretary that it is just something small to help the Governor as she settles in with her new job.

A couple of days ago, I announced the Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) I worked on that made it into the Hawaii State budget bill. Waikele Elementary School and Honowai Elementary School are two of the three schools in his district that got CIP appropriations. To meet the community's growing needs, Waikele Elementary School wants an extended parking lot where parents can safely pick up and dropp off their kids. Honowai Elementary School has been waiting for fiteen years to get their library air-conditioned. The dust has been a threat to books and materials and the heat has affected learning in the facility.

Yesterday, KGMB 9 News covered my announcement regarding Honowai Elementary School's concerns. The media mentioned that Honowai Elementary School's CIP for air-conditioning was not on the Department of Education's (DOE) priority list and that the Governor hinted she may line-item veto projects not on the list. However, members of the schools stressed the importance of having air-conditioning to protect books and give students a better learning environment due to the hot nature of the Waipahu-Ewa plains.

I am working on some measures I hope to introduce for next year's legislative session. Many of the measures deal with economic development. I am trying to come up with as many ideas as I can to help diversify our economy, create jobs and bring in investments. When the bills are ready, I will anounce them.

I hosted some judges from Tianjin, China and had a nice talk with them in my office I showed them the Hawaii State House of Representatives chamber before escorting them to the Hawaii Supreme Court to meet Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon.

This past couple of weeks I have been visiting the schools in my district to touch basis, and present letters and certificates to all the outgoing and incoming student leaders.

At Waikele Elementary School, I presented certificates and letters at their student government meeting room. A couple of the students remembered me speaking to them in the “Young CEO” program, which encourages kids to be entrepreneurial. The student leaders gave me a group picture of them with all their signatures. I proudly display the picture in my office.

Kaleiopu'u Elementary School gave me the opportunity to present certificates to their student leaders in their morning assembly, which was videotaped and broadcasted live throughout the entire school. After, I had a really good talk with the student leaders.

This evening, Rep. Karamatsu presented certificates and letters to the student leaders at Waipahu High School that was held at the Pearl City High School auditorium. “Their enthusiasm and energy was really satisfying to see,” mentioned Rep. Karamatsu. He continued, “They are truly up and coming leaders.”

I organized Waipahu’s first town meeting held by its legislators. The topic was “Legislative Wrap-Up.” The meeting was held yesterday, Tuesday, May 20, 2003 at the Waipahu Intermediate School Cafeteria from 7:00 to 8:30 P.M.

The legislators participating were Senators Cal Kawamoto, Brian Kanno, and Willie Espero, and Representatives Alex Sonson, Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo, and Jon Riki Karamatsu. I moderated the meeting and had each legislator give a summary of what happened this past legislative session. We covered a wide range of issues and finished the last half hour of the meeting with questions and answers.

At the town meeting, Waipahu Intermediate School’s social studies teacher brought a display of the students work regarding history. They are raising money to help some of their students attend “History Day” in Washington D.C.

The event was enjoyable. Approximately fifty people attended that night.

Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu
Floor Speech on House Bill 200, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1
April 29, 2003

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support.

The challenge of balancing the budget this Legislative Session was enormous. Last year the Governor made promises to not raise taxes, lay off workers, and take monies from the Hurricane Fund. This took off all the options from the table for discussion because anyone who disagreed with her would be called an obstructionist in one of her many press releases against the legislature. Moreover, the Council of Revenues projections looked grim.

The House was eager to work with her. However, in the House Committee on Finance, the Administration was late making many deadlines regarding their proposed budget, which made it difficult for the committee to move forward since time was of the essence. When the Administration's proposed budget was finally presented by the Department of Budget and Finance, there was to be a five percent cut across the board for all departments. However, Education and Higher Education ended up taking most of the cuts, much higher than five percent.

The House and Senate came together and worked out their differences and came up with a balanced budget. The House and Senate placed education as a top priority by restoring the Governor's cuts in education. In addition, taxes were not raised, people were not laid off, and the Hurricane Fund was not tapped. Given the circumstances, balancing the budget was an accomplishment.

Thank you Mr. Speaker.

Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu
Floor Speech on Senate Bill 377, S.D. 1, H.D. 2., C.D. 1
Thursday, May 1, 2003

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support.

Looking at the big picture, this Ko Olina Resort tax credit and our hotel construction and remodeling tax credit will help modernize our tourism industry to be competitive as a global destination.

While we are encouraging the diversification of our economy through Act 221, which encourages the development of our knowledge-based industries, we must not neglect our number one industry, tourism. We must do what we can to maintain our tourism industry so we can bring past visitors and future visitors to come.

Thank you Mr Speaker.

Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu
Floor Speech on House Bill 1400, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, C.D. 1
Thursday, May 1, 2003

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support.

The hotel construction and remodeling tax credit in this bill will help stimulate our economy by bringing in new investment and improvements critical to the visitor industry. Specifically, in Waikiki, this bill will help revitalize old and worn hotels and make Waikiki a modern, state of the art location to visit. By upgrading and diversifying our product, construction jobs will be provided and visitors will be given new reasons to visit Hawaii.

Thank you Mr. Speaker.

All tax increase bills are no longer moving except one, the long-term care tax credit. I voted “no” on this measure because I believe such a tax increase will be difficult on our fragile economy.

The Finance and Ways and Means Committees restored much of the education and higher education cuts proposed by the Administration. In addition, the Administration tried to “gut” Act 221. The House has defended Act 221 because it is an investment to build knowledge-based industries in Hawaii.