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2010 Legislative Agenda
The following are identified as the top three Chamber issues:
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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE: Support unemployment insurance tax legislation that will mitigate the impacts of the tax increase. -
EIS: Support balanced and fair legislation that will remove the uncertainty and provide clarity to the process, as well as opposing a wholesale revision of Chamber 343. -
GET: Opposing a GET increase.
Unemployment Insurance
An immediate ten-fold increase in the average unemployment tax could result in the loss of 5,000 to 14,000 jobs in 2010, and many business closures. The "tax shock" will hurt the overall economy and employment just as our economy is beginning to recover. For example, the next effect of the unmoderated UI tax increase alone on a business with 40 employees paying $40,000 in annual compensation would be one job reduction.
Click here for a draft of the Chamber's bill (will be replaced once bill number is assigned).
Click here for background of Chamber bill and talking points.
The Chamber has been actively meeting with the Legislature on this issue. The Chamber's bill has been introduced by Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and Speaker Calvin Say.
Environmental Impact Statement (HRS 343)
In 2008, the Legislature passed a bill that required the UH Environmental Center to conduct a comprehensive review of Hawaii's environmental review system and submit a report prior to the 2010 Legislative Session. The Center completed the study and intends to introduce an omnibus bill.
The business community understands and support the need to provide the necessary information for projects as part of the development process. The concern is determining the specific situations that warrant the preparation of a 343 document.
Given the current state of the economy, both the public and private sectors are trying to expedite projects in order to preserve and create jobs and to stimulate the economy. While the existing Ch. 343 is an impediment to this, it is at least somewhat predictable. A wholesale revision of Ch. 343 at this time would dramatcially slow the process of project approval. Additionally, the body of law built up over decades would become unsettled, predictability would be lost and capital investment in Hawaii would be discouraged as project approvals become mired down with delays and process complexity.
Predictability in a fair and objective process is something that the business community supports. Also, there needs to be a clear understanding of what role the Chapter 343 process plays in the entitlement/development process in Hawaii. It has historically been and should remain a public disclosure document that provides objective information to decision makers on a project.
Health Care Initiatives
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