Senator Sam Slom was the Keynote speaker for the graduation of Remington College Hawaii Campus 2014 on Friday September 19, 2014.
Senate President Kim, Governor Abercrombie, distinguished guests and overburdened taxpayers of Hawaii, on behalf of the entire Senate Minority, aloha!
Thank God, this body will once again have daily prayer, because if ever there was a time elected officials should call on a higher authority for guidance, it is now.
"We, the People." That is the beginning of both the United States and Hawaii Constitutions and we need to remind ourselves, as elected officials, of the significance of these words. These are serious times requiring our best abilities and swift action.
It seems many of our residents, perhaps too many, believe we have lost our way and forgotten those limiting words as government becomes more dominant in our daily lives. There are negative consequences: a divided population, voter apathy, less confidence in us as elected officials and more social and financial problems. People in Hawaii are tired of being pushed around while told everything is fine. They know better.
Last month, the national emphasis was on the so-called federal "fiscal cliff," involving excessive government taxation, spending, and debt. Actually, we fell off that cliff months ago. In Hawaii, more accurately we face the "Financial Pali," as government attempts to take away more freedoms and income from its citizens.
Forbes Magazine describes Hawaii as one of 10 "Death Spiral States." Forbes and other watchdog organizations cite over taxation and rising tax burdens, increased state debt, massive unfunded liabilities, and an exodus of private employers, as dangerous for investors.
Nothing has really been resolved on the federal level, and while both sides continue to fight over the debt ceiling, fewer Americans are tuning in because they believe their elected officials are not accountable or transparent, and don't know where to turn.
A nation and a state without accountability and lack of consequences set a dangerous precedent. We need meaningful change and must provide consequences for bad behavior and poor performance in government.
Last year, we tried to run roughshod over established environmental hearings procedures by granting government special and favorable fast track powers. We tried to fool the public into believing that initiatives such as the Public Land Development Corporation were good for them. PLDC should be repealed, not amended.
We don't speak honestly to our constituents about the true costs and impact of major projects our state had undertaken like the heavy steel rail on Oahu, the $2 billion undersea electric cable, wind turbines covering neighbor Island landscapes so that they might power Oahu, and the costs associated with contract overages, add-ons, missing money and wasted funds. We must respect taxpayers enough to be truthful.
During Senate investigations of Hawaii's only taxpayer supported state university-hearings demanded not by government officials but by concerned taxpayers and alumni who put their trust in the Senate-we discovered our excellent university is being run by bureaucrats who have not been responsible with taxpayer funds.
The problems go far beyond the $200,000 lost in the "Stevie Wonder Concert Blunder." The UH Administration showers high salaries and enviable perks on administrators while lacking oversight of its hoards of public relations personnel, incompetent attorneys and old boys.
At our University, there is high cost and low achievement from our administration. What are the consequences so far? Nothing. Those involved with the Wonder Blunder and other careless spending still hold power and are paid well. They hope we will forget. We must not. There must be consequences for their actions.
Our Office of Elections is charged with only one duty every two years: organizing and holding fair, efficient and affordable elections for every voter. They booted it, not just last year, but in previous years. Not to print and distribute enough ballots thereby denying a citizen's right to vote-an easy enough task-is criminal and should be punished, but instead, in Hawaii tradition, the same people continue in office. This must be changed. They need to be replaced.
Our judiciary has undergone a new initiative but problems still exist. Preference still appears for criminals and not restitution for victims, especially children.
Hawaii's State Department of Health has badly mismanaged state recycling and several other programs they are responsible for. It's not just me saying this; it is the Legislative Auditor, yet we do nothing to stop these practices.
As I predicted previously, Hawaii's outlays for welfare and social services would exceed annual expenditures for government education. Late last year, that became a fact. Hawaii spends more on welfare and other social service programs than we do on educating our children. Yes, there are people in need, but we must ensure we are not supporting those who choose not to work or be financially responsible. Leading the Nation in food stamps, and among the top for the homeless, are not badges of honor.
Our proposed new state budget would increase spending over the next two years by 8% and 11%, respectively, though there is not economic growth to support this increase in government. Many are in denial about the consequences of continued spending growth. The Senate Minority again will develop and put online, an alternative approach to the budget. Ineffective programs and personnel must be jettisoned.
There is a new, expensive, taxpayer subsidized proposal to put our 4 year olds in government schools. The $30 million Early Education Program is widely supported by politicians, non-profits that will gain financially, unions, and a well funded lobbying group. The proponents ultimately want the state to pay for care for children beginning in their infancy, and starting at age 4 is just the beginning. I oppose this further intervention by a government that has not been able to provide even an average education with existing programs and billions of annual subsidies in the government schools. We would not be preparing these children to "succeed," only to start earlier in the government bureaucracy.
Compulsory public unions in Hawaii flaunt their power and are out of control. The HGEA seized a "most favored nation clause," guaranteeing them every possible unearned benefit that is bitterly unfair and burdensome to Hawaii taxpayers.
The United Public Workers refused to take a 5% pay cut the same as all other state workers-without any consequence-and are now being rewarded by binding arbitration with a 6% raise. I for one, will strongly oppose an $8 million so-called "emergency" appropriation to reward the UPW, and call on my colleagues to stand up also.
The Hawaii State Teachers Association, which signed a contract agreeing to drug testing and other requirements during the previous Administration, refused to comply and there were no consequences. Now they too want more money and benefits. For our keiki? It's not about the children; it is about money and power.
Senate President, you previously called attention to, and presided over, an investigation of unwarranted and costly public employee overtime. The issue has not gone away and in some cases it, and the spiked income pensions overtime allows, is more rampant. Whistleblowers and good, hardworking state and county employees come to me seeking to end bad practices. Many times, their supervisors fail them. We need to end these practices and support hard working employees while weeding out the others.
Our attention in the first days of the 27th Legislature will not be on providing consequences for poor behavior and performance. More likely, we'll light up the debate on marijuana, roll the dice on gambling, and try to make it easier to die by suicide, after escaping abortion. On a side note, we should do everything possible to help free our neighbor, Roger Christie, from unjust federal imprisonment and loss of civil liberties on the grounds that he is a "dangerous criminal" because of his marijuana position.
We need to focus on the priority items in our community, especially our economy. Hawaii's economy has not turned around. The Visitor Industry single handedly is propping up our dismal performance. But if we adjust current record-breaking arrival and expenditure data, we are looking at the same visitor levels as occurred in the 1980s.
Construction, retailing, wholesaling and manufacturing are all doing poorly, no matter what some pundits would like you to believe. Just talk to our people in those industries to learn the truth. Then, do everything to improve our business climate.
The loss of our very special Senior Senator, Daniel Inouye, in December, has enormous consequences - social, political and fiscal. He is already missed. His absence does allow for political changes and more independence; His legendary power will be fought over. The estimated $450 million he brought to this economy annually, and his political and fiscal clout, are gone. Hawaii had many years to prepare for this impact but we didn't. We need to search for other private market economic alternatives to boost our economy, not for a single politician to fill this void.
Hawaii could attract many new employers who provide jobs and tax revenue if we listened to those in our business community and repaired our business climate. Instead, Hawaii government continues to be hostile to business. The recent loss of the Tesoro Refinery and regular closure of bench mark businesses are just symptoms of a government that rewards its own incompetence and risky government "investments" of public money, while punishing hard working private risk takers.
We need to look objectively at states like Wisconsin, Michigan and 22 others, to debate "Right to Work" legislation, not to punish compulsory unions, but to incentivize all workers, and allow them to choose whether or not to join a union and pay dues. It is the right thing to do and the right time to do it.
And by the way, wouldn't it be wonderful if legislators could always act at the same speed to produce good legislation and dismiss bad laws as the Governor did when appointing Lt. Governor Schatz as Senator, a new Lt. Governor, and Senators and Representatives? We must act quickly for the people; not just a Political Party.
In Hawaii, we have not done our best on behalf of Hawaii's people. We can and must do better. I believe in an even greater Hawaii with more choices and opportunities for all of our residents. We have it in our power to make it so. Our people and culture are our greatest resources. They are counting on us. We must not fail them.
On behalf of the Senate Minority, I pledge our efforts to support good legislation regardless of who introduces it; to examine and report honestly on the impact of all bills; to work towards ending Legislative exemptions for laws we pass on others and to end counter-productive practices, such as "gut and replace" bills, which lack transparency.
We celebrate our individual God-given liberty and our ability to change for the better. Our goal should not just be a "New Day," but instead, "A Better Day". This is not a partisan issue. We can navigate a different course. We can make that happen by a vision of what Hawaii can be. For, We, The People. Let's begin today.
Aloha and Mahalo, God Bless Hawaii, our armed forces men and women and the United States of America.
Senator Slom talks about the Governor's State of the State Address.
State Senator Sam Slom delivered his opening day remarks on behalf of the single member minority caucus on January 19. He emphasized the budget as one of the key points in his address.
Senate President Tsutsui, Governor Abercrombie, distinguished guests and overburdened taxpayers of Hawaii, on behalf of the entire Senate Minority, Aloha!
Some people have referred to me as "The Lone Ranger" because throughout the entire United States I am the only single party Senator in a State Legislature. The Ranger may have been "lone" but he was a good guy, unafraid of the odds against him, and he was able to inspire the townspeople to join together and act for their common defense. I will strive to live up to that reputation. However, he wasn't really alone. Even many of my majority party colleagues have been most accommodating and helpful; they understand the need for two-parties in the Legislature.
My role is to insure that Hawaii's legislature leads in creating a strong and independent Hawaii for our future, and to make sure we are doing the best we can, with the least we can, for the benefit of all of Hawaii's citizens.
Hawaii still enjoys two competitive philosophies within our government, and this is not dependent on the number of Republican Senators. Our philosophy emphasizes individual risk and accomplishment, lower taxes on families and small businesses, transparency in government and more economic choices for everyone.
One of the primary differences in our political philosophy is that the party I represent believes in the ability of each individual to achieve greatness without the yoke of government. Nationally, and in Hawaii, we have encouraged an entire generation to shelve their self-reliance and become government dependent. The result has been more people, even some businesses and organizations, clamoring for government subsidy. They have gone to the taxpayer well too often. Now, the well is nearly dry.
The big issues we face during this 2011 Session clearly will be The Budget, The Budget and The Budget.
We continue to be aware of our state's severe economic challenges-many of which have been created by our own state government-and know that while there has been some positive recovery, notably in the visitor industry, we have not really turned the corner for small businesses, retailing, manufacturing, or most households. We are not inviting new investment or major private job creation to the extent we need.
Without systemic changes, we cannot improve Hawaii's economy. Without holding ourselves to the same laws we pass, we cannot hope to make more transparent what we do behind closed doors in this building.
Expenses can be cut back in the legislature, and must be cut back, just as individuals, families and small business have been doing for years. The era of government free spending of other peoples' income is over, though some people in Hawaii's government remain in denial.
Our state Employees Retirement System (ERS), deemed, "the 5th worst in the U.S.," is in trouble and under-funded by more than $7 billion. The ERS must be changed for future beneficiaries.
Our state EUTF, Employees Health Trust Fund, is likewise fiscally challenged due to decades of over generous benefits.
Our state hospital system needs annual "emergency" subsidies, as does our Medicaid programs. Our Human Services department now will operate a $2.3 billion budget. This cost is second only to education, which it will surpass in a few years.
Homelessness grows at an alarming rate without an answer to the financial and human problems. We continue to create more poverty through increased taxes, fees and regulations, then subsidize the result of legislative excess.
Hawaii continues to suffer from unfunded federal mandates that are quickly draining our treasury, while diminishing our 10th amendment sovereignty rights. It's time to take on the inherent states rights granted in our Constitution.
Government has allowed our basic infrastructure to deteriorate, including our roads, airports, harbors, parks, sewers, and water systems, no matter how much taxpayer money we spend.
This is not just about money. It's about leadership and discipline. It's about setting the bar higher for our citizens to follow. It's about the future we will leave for our children.
Lessons were learned in most other states in the 2010 elections, and the change in political climate outside of Hawaii is real and lasting. Change will come to Hawaii.
This Session, we must focus on the primary issues important to our residents- jobs, a positive business climate, the budget, meaningful education reforms and infrastructure-and not be distracted unnecessarily from our real economic problems.
Your Republican minority offers not just opposition to ill-conceived bills, or poorly drafted bills, but real alternatives. We hope to work closely together with the Majority. In the days ahead, we will detail specifics, including:
• an alternative operating balanced budget showing where cuts could and should be made while keeping our pledge for "NO NEW TAXES;
• public education incentives that challenge students and reward meritorious teachers without further reductions in instructional days. Throwing more dollars-$2.7 billion now- while enrollment, classroom teachers, instructional days and results decline, is not good business nor good education and MUST be changed;
• our University of Hawaii, my Alma Mater, needs to be more independent of government micro management, so it can be a truly great university;
• voluntary, reasonable, energy alternatives, including authorizing new, micro nuclear facilities for Hawaii;
• passage of measures to restore political power to the people including initiative, referendum, recall and term limits; and
• the ability for all of Hawaii's Native Hawaiians to join legislators to identify what we all need together, here in Hawaii, as opposed to the behind closed doors political drafts in Washington, D.C. of yet another Akaka Bill. Hawaiians need to be full partners and equal economic beneficiaries in an improved Hawaii.
Hawaii needs an economic jump-start, not from more government stimulus debt, but from the ideas and experience of those who create private jobs. They have offered to help us. We need to listen to them and act. We CAN do this. We must listen to the farmers, restauranteurs, those in the hospitality industry, technology innovators and the medical professionals when they specifically tell us what they need to succeed.
We celebrate and honor all of our men and women in uniform and are grateful for the military's many contributions-not just financial-to our community.
The adversity of the current economic slowdown is a real opportunity to "right-size" government in Hawaii. Our state government has been growing exponentially faster than the private sector and the taxpayers called upon to support it. Through public workforce attrition and smart deployment of our limited resources, we can bring government to the size we can afford while protecting core services.
Our professed belief in sustainability should not be solely related to energy. We need to allow families and small businesses to sustain their standard of living by not overburdening them with more taxes and fees.
We also know we need to have both a viable economy and a pristine environment. Medical waste and other toxins in our oceans is outrageous and unacceptable. This is again a failure of government despite massive tax dollars.
Not surprisingly, there is public discontent with our State Legislature. Many believe we spend too much time on increasing our own salaries and benefits, exempting ourselves from laws we pass for others and covering up questionable ethics. The good news is we have several fresh faces, and the tools and resources, if we have the political will to change.
We are compassionate, but not at the expense of complacency of our fiscal responsibilities. Your Minority stands for the enforcement of existing laws rather than more laws. We approach this Session with enthusiasm for the opportunities that these tough times present. We believe in Hawaii's people.
We celebrate our individual God-given liberty and our ability to change for the better. This is not a partisan issue. We can navigate a different course.
We can make that happen by a vision of what Hawaii can be. Let's start today.
Mahalo, God Bless Hawaii and Aloha.
Click here to download the PDF.
After a long series of weekend State Capitol deliberations - sometimes contentious - behind open doors with the Republican Caucus, State Senator Sam Slom (R-8 - Hawaii Kai - Diamond Head) emerged as the new Senate Minority Leader.
He is also the Minority Floor Leader and the Minority Policy Leader. There are no Minority Republican Whips. There is only one Republican State Senator after the November 2 election: Senator Slom.
Slom will meet with new Senate President, Shan Tsutsui of Maui, tomorrow.
Though out-numbered 24-1 in the Senate, Slom pledged to energetically and honorably represent the more than 45% of voters supporting Republican candidates, traditional values, and to continue his strenuous opposition to new and increased taxes, government spending and debt for all voters.
Slom said his focus will be on job creation, improving Hawaii's distressed economy and meaningful educational reforms. He will continue to advocate term limits.
He also announced he will shortly begin weekly press briefings on major legislation for the 2011 Session which begins January 19, 2011, add a new Senate Minority website, utilize live key committee hearing streaming and social media to explain pending bills, work with community volunteers to report on each of the 15 Senate committees and to introduce "Ask Your Senator" forums to provide the public with more information and transparency about bills that will affect their families, small businesses and standard of living.
Story from State Senator Sam Slom's Kuliouou NHB Report #2 - Sept. 2, 2010
The State Senate confirmed Mark E. Recktenwald as Hawaii's newest Chief Justice to the Hawaii State Supreme Court on September 2. He succeeds Ronald Moon who retires this
month upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
The full Senate also confirmed Blaine J. Kobayashi to the District Court of the Second Circuit for the County of Maui.
Both nominees appeared before the Senate Judiciary and Government Operations (JGO) committee on August 25 of which I am a member. The JGO committee voted unanimously to advise
and consent to Recktenwald's confirmation on Sept. 1.
The full Senate approved his confirmation by a 22-0 vote at today's special session.
You can download Senator Slom's September 2 edition of the Kuliouou Neighborhood Board #2 report which contains the rest of the story above and more news items. Click here to download.
"What could we ask of Mark Recktenwald that has not been asked in previous hearings? What could he tell us that he would do that he hasn't done; first, in the U.S. Attorney's office, then as the head of the struggling Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, next on to the Intermediate Court of Appeals, and now currently on the Supreme Court of the State of Hawai'i.
"You can look at the measure of a man from his educational background, and it's superior; from his experience, and it's superior; from his writing ability, and it's superior. But more importantly than all of that is his relationship with other individuals; and as was said by the Judiciary Chairman, he had unanimous support for this position. And among those that came to testify were people that had come up against him or who he had ruled against in a court of law, but they still have respect for this man because of his fairness, because of his equality. And so, you've had individuals that have known him from the legal profession, the business profession, and also from the community, where he is a leader, he is a volunteer. He's outstanding.
"I think that the nomination of Judge Recktenwald at this time represents the right man at the right time for the right job. We know that he will not disappoint us. We know that he will do exactly what he has said he will do because we have a long and distinguished career track record to view that by. I think that we can safely say that Judge Recktenwald as Chief Justice will be a beacon for true judicial reform in the State of Hawai'i. And as he also stated, his passion is for expansion of alternative dispute resolution, something that will touch everyone in the community, will make justice access more easily accessible to more people, and to bring more fairness and equity to our state.
"So, I wholeheartedly endorse the confirmation of Mr. Recktenwald, and urge my colleagues to give unanimous support. And, as a special favor to the good senator from Kahuluu, Madam President, I will not ask for or seek a Roll Call vote. Thank you."
By Senator Sam Slom
From the Hawaii Kai NHB #1 Report, August 31, 2010.
The State Senate is meeting in special session this week for the confirmation of two judicial nominees. Senate floor sessions will be called to order on September 1 and 2 to take care of the nominations of Justice Mark E. Recktenwald to the Chief Justice position in the Hawaii State Supreme Court and the confirmation of Blaine J. Kobayashi to the District Court of the Second Circuit for the County of Maui.
Both nominees appeared before the Senate Judiciary and Government Operations (JGO) committee on August 25 of which I am a member. The committee heard about 2 hours worth of testimony, most in support of the nominees. It is expected that the JGO committee will vote to advise and consent on the nominees, after which they should pass a confirmation vote before the full Senate on September 2.
Mark Recktenwald will become Hawaii's 5th Chief Justice, succeeding Chief Justice Ronald Moon who will resign by September 4 due to the mandatory age limit statute that applies to all Hawaii State judges.
Recktenwald is a current associate justice on the Hawaii State Supreme Court after being named to the position last May. He previously served in the Hawaii State Intermediate Court of Appeals and was Director of the State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs from 2003 to 2007.
Recktenwald is the 2nd person to be nominated by Governor Lingle to the Chief Justice position after the her initial nominee, Judge Katherine Leonard was turned down by the State Senate after going through the lengthy process and facing her critics.
District court nominee Blaine J. Kobayashi is a partner in the Carlsmith Ball LLP firm in Maui County. He previously served as Deputy Corporation Counsel for Maui County, Deputy County Attorney for Kauai County and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, also for the County of Kauai.
The Senate floor sessions will be held in the Capitol Auditorium instead of the Senate Chamber which have been taken over since July by the Office of Elections for election tallying this fall. The September 1 session will be held at 10:00 am followed by a JGO committee hearing for decision making in Room 229 at 11:00 am the same day.
On September 2, the Senate is to meet again for the 11:00 am special session where the confirmation vote is to be taken.
Photo: Associate Justice Mark Recktenwald (left) appears before the Senate JGO committee on August 25. Also shown are KHON TV reporter Andrew Gomes and his cameraman; Sen. Brickwood Galuteria and Sen. Sam Slom.
Read this article and more in Senator Slom's Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board #1 Report for August 31, 2010.
Senator Slom's Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Report from July 26, 2010 is available for download as a PDF.
Governor Linda Lingle will be nominating a new Chief Justice to the Hawaii State Supreme Court and has nominated three candidates to fill vacancies in the First Circuit Court of Oahu.
The State Judicial Selection Commission has recommended the following candidates for Chief Justice and their current positions: Bert I. Ayabe (Circuit Judge); Daniel R. Foley (Assoc. Judge, Int. Court of Appeals); Katherine G. Leonard (Assoc. Judge, Int. Court of Appeals); Craig H. Nakamura (Chief Judge, Int. Court of Appeals); Richard W. Pollack (Circuit Court Judge); Mark E. Recktenwald (Associate Justice, Hawaii Supreme Court).
Governor Lingle nominated three individuals to serve as Circuit Court judges... Read more