Waipahu Neighborhood Board No. 22, November 18, 1999

Open House - `Olelo TV Series on the House of Representatives:

The House of Representatives has a weekly show on `Olelo (Oceanic Channel 54 - Sundays at 7:30 p.m.) to explain the issues facing the State and the Legislature. I participated in taping show Number 11 in the Open House series which is titled "The Fiscal Outlook." This show features four of us from the Finance Committee, including the Chair and Vice Chair, discussing the economy and the State budget.

My comments included: We need to cut taxes to stimulate economic growth. Hawaii has been bypassed by the economic prosperity on the mainland. In the rest of the United States, 80% of the people live in states where Republican governors and legislatures have cut taxes. Guess what? In the years following those tax cuts the states collected even more revenue. We have to do the same thing in Hawaii. My colleagues I had made a good start in 1998 when we reduced personal income tax rates. But we need to make substantial cuts to business taxes and the GET.

Second, our state government is too big and does too much. We need to carefully examine what should be the core functions of state government and stick to those high priority missions. The House of Representatives is working right now to evaluate and prioritize what the state government is doing, so I am hopeful.

Third, we have to make sure we squeeze full value out of every penny we take from the taxpayer's pocket. Government has to be efficient and effective. Part of the process to improve government is modernizing the civil service system. Again, I am somewhat encouraged since we are working on a bipartisan basis to reform civil service.

If we do not take bold and farsighted action, if we just continue on as we have for the past 9 years, revenues will continue to decrease as cost of government increases, and we will be forced to take a meat ax to programs and start laying off employees. That is not a responsible way to govern. We must act in the 2000 session to get our state economy going again. It is up to us.

This show will be broadcast December 19 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. on Oceanic Cable Channel 54 - `Olelo Views - The Public Access Channel.

Royal Kunia/Village Park Contamination:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has stated the Kunia Camp well is in a different aquifer than the Kunia wells used to supply drinking water to Royal Kunia and Village Park (correspondence previously provided to Board). Given the fact these wells are only a few miles apart, I am consulting with the State Water Resources Management Commission to determine the hydrology of the area. My question is are we dealing with the same aquifer? If this is the case, Royal Kunia and Village Park might qualify for an EPA investigation, and perhaps federally funded remediation efforts. A copy of my letter is attached.

It appears more investigation of Village Park and Royal Kunia is necessary to determine if there is a risk to the health of the people. The results of soil tests conducted by the State Department of Health are due to the legislature in December of this year. I strongly suspect they will be inconclusive or indicate a need for further investigation. I have requested the Department of Health provide me with a plan for a scientifically valid study to find out what is going on. The study must cover both Royal Kunia and Village Park. So far only Village Park has been studied.

The big challenge will be how to fund a definitive study. I am examining whether we can use the State Environmental Response Revolving Fund for this purpose. Our current state budget allocates $47 million out of this fund for various environmental response programs, surely there is room to fund a study in Royal Kunia and Village Park. The correspondence is attached.

Lastly, the public recently learned the location of several dioxin (agent orange) contaminated sites in Central and Leeward Oahu. One of these is adjacent to Royal Kunia. A copy of my letter to the Department of Health is attached, with identifying information deleted to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned. Also attached is a letter from DOH that identifies the dioxin sites.

Kapolei Library:

1998 Legislature appropriated $7.4 million to build phase I of the Kapolei Library on land donated by Campbell Estate. We must begin spending this money by June 30, 1999. To make a long story short, the State Librarian has put the project on hold. The Kapolei Library was planned to be a large (100,000 square foot) high tech facility to serve the needs of Central and Leeward Oahu.

The State Librarian and I disagree on the likelihood of obtaining new money to completely finance the Library as a new project. Just last month the Governor imposed $28 million in spending restrictions because revenues were less than planned expenditures. This deficit is anticipated to be $60 million next fiscal year, and $120 million in each of the following two fiscal years. I have strongly urged the State Librarian to use the money already appropriated to build Phase I of the Kapolei Library.

I recently wrote to the Governor (copy attached) to find out if he will, in fact, support the State Library System budget requests for a new capital appropriation to build the Kapolei Library. I also urged him that starting to spend the existing money is the best way to get the library built. My approach is to build as much library as we can with the existing funds, rather than delay the project and hold out for more new money in the future. Call me at 586-8500 or 672-8550 if you want to help.