PAYCHECKS HAWAII Rates the 2012 Legislators on Small Business Advocacy

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REPORT FROM PAYCHECKS HAWAII — Each legislative session, since 1986, PAYCHECKS HAWAII, the independent non-partisan, political action affiliate of Smart Business Hawaii (created in 1984), rates each of Hawaii’s 76 state legislators (51 House and 25 Senate).

Lawmakers are rated on their support and advocacy for small business and an improved business climate in collaboration with other Hawaii business organizations, individuals and those actively participating at the Capitol during the regular legislative session (January-May). The subjective business ratings are based upon: (1) key business votes involving tax, fee and regulatory increases; (2) efforts to actively increase or decrease government size and spending; (3) employer mandates (i.e., unemployment comp, workers’ comp, TDI, etc.); (4) conduct in business hearings, accessibility and response of legislator, and (5) active sponsorship, introduction and advocacy of business climate legislation.

Each lawmaker is rated, regardless of political party, from #1—“most supportive and outspoken advocate for small business and an improved Hawaii business climate,” to #5, “least supportive or hostile to a better business climate.” Purely social issues bills are not counted.

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PAYCHECKS HAWAII Ratings may be helpful during election periods. During 2012, the following business and investment bills and votes were among the “key” measures used in the ratings:

  • Retaining current employer unemployment compensation tax rates (all lawmakers voted in favor of this bill signed into law by the Governor
  • Creation of a State Bank;
  • Compulsory Meal Breaks for Employees;
  • HB 2078 – Additional Regulations on Off-Island Transient Accommodations
  • HB 2260 / SB 2511A ban and/or tax for plastic bags;
  • GE Tax on all Internet Purchases (“Streamlining Tax”)
  • SB 2424 – Anti competitive Professional Organization (PEO) bill;
  • SB 2785 – Provides framework and higher PUC utility rates for a costly Neighbor Island undersea cable benefiting the monopoly HECO;
  • SB 2927 Eliminates citizen input and environmental checks on state and county projects, notably rail and transit oriented developments;
  • SB 2424 SD1 HD1 CD1 – Professional Employer Organizations; Barrier to Small PEOs;
  • HB1039 HD1 SD2 CD1 – Continues motor vehicle rental surcharge to $7.50 per day.

    The complete list and rankings appear below and in our print edition.

    Hawaii State Senate Session

    PAYCHECKS HAWAII RATINGS: HAWAII STATE SENATE

    STATE SENATOR District 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
    Baker, Rosalyn (D) 5 5 4 3 4 4
    Chun Oakland, Suzanne (D) 13 3 3 4 4 3
    Dela Cruz, Donovan (D) 22 – – – 3 4
    English, J. Kalani (D) 6 5 4 4 4 4
    Espero, Will C. (D) 20 3 3 4 4 4
    Fukunaga,Carol A. (D) 11 3 3 3 4 4
    Gabbard, Mike (D) 19 3 2 3 4 5
    Galuteria, Brickwood (D) 12 – 4 4 4 4
    Green, Josh M.D. (D) 3 3 2 2 2 2
    Hee, Clayton (D) 23 5 4 4 4 3
    Ige, David (D) 16 3 4 3 3 3
    Ihara, Jr. Les (D) 9 3 3 4 3 2
    Kahele, Gilbert (D) + 2 – – – 4 4
    Kidani, Michelle (D) 17 – 3 4 4 3
    Kim, Donna Mercado (D) 14 3 3 3 3 3
    Kouchi, Ronald D. (D) 7 – – – 3 3
    Nishihara, Clarence K. (D) 18 3 2 3 4 4
    Ryan, Pohai (D) 25 – – – 3 3
    Shimabukuro, Maile (D) * 21 4 4 4 4 4
    Slom, Sam (R) 8 1 1 1 1 1
    Solomon, Malama (D) + 1 – – – 2 3
    Taniguchi, Brian (D) 10 5 4 4 3 4
    Tokuda, Jill N. (D) 24 4 3 4 3 3
    Tsutsui, Shan S. (D) 4 3 3 4 3 4
    Wakai, Glenn (D) 15 – – – 2 2

    + appointed * appointed from House

    Budget Conference Committee

    PAYCHECKS HAWAII RATINGS: HAWAII STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

    STATE REPRESENTATIVE District 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
    Acquino, Henry J.C. (D) 35 – 3 4 4 4
    Awana, Karen L. (D) 44 4 4 4 3 3
    Belatti, Della Au (D) 25 3 3 4 2 2
    Brower, Tom (D) 23 4 3 2 2 3
    Cabanilla, Rida T.R. (D) 42 3 3 4 4 4
    Carroll, Mele (D) 13 4 4 4 4 4
    Chang, Jerry L. (D) 2 4 4 4 4 4
    Ching, Corinne (R) 27 2 2 2 2 2
    Chong, Pono (D) 49 4 4 4 4 4
    Choy, Isaac W. (D) 24 – 3 4 4 4
    Coffman, Denny (D) 6 – 3 4 4 4
    Cullen, Ty (D) 41 – – – 4 4
    Evans, Cindy (D) 7 4 3 4 4 4
    Fontaine, George R. (R) 11 – – – 2 2
    Giugni, Heather (D) + 33 – – – – 4
    Hanohano, Faye P. (D) 4 4 4 4 4 4
    Har, Sharon E. (D) 40 4 4 4 4 4
    Hashem, Mark J. (D) 18 – – – 3 4
    Herkes, Robert (D) 5 3 3 4 4 4
    Ichiyama, Linda (D) 31 – – – 3 4
    Ito, Ken (D) 48 3 3 3 3 3
    Johanson, Aaron Ling (R) 32 – – – 1 2
    Jordan, Jo (D) + 45 – – – 4 4
    Kawakami, Derek S.K. (D) + 14 – – – 3 4
    Keith-Agaran, Gilbert (D) 9 – 4 4 4 4
    Lee, Chris (D) 51 – 3 4 4 4
    Lee, Marilyn B. (D) 38 5 4 4 4 4
    Luke, Sylvia J. (D) 26 3 3 4 3 3
    Manahan, Joey (D) 29 4 4 4 4 4
    Marumoto, Barbara C. (R) 19 2 1 1 1 1
    McKelvey, Agnus L.K. (D) 10 3 2 3 3 3
    Mizuno, John (D) 30 4 3 4 4 4
    Morikawa, Dee (D) 16 – – – 3 4
    Nakashima, Mark M. (D) 1 – 3 4 4 4
    Nishimoto, Scott Y. (D) 21 4 4 4 4 4
    Oshiro, Marcus (D) 39 5 5 5 5 4
    Pine, Kymberly Marcos (R) 43 1 1 1 2 2
    Rhoads, Karl (D) 28 4 3 3 3 3
    Riviere, Gil (R) 46 – – – 2 2
    Saiki, Scott (D) 22 4 4 4 4 4
    Say, Calvin K.Y. (D) 20 4 4 5 4 5
    Souki, Joseph M. (D) 8 4 4 4 4 5
    Takai, K. Mark (D) 34 4 – 4 3 3
    Takumi, Roy M. (D) 36 5 5 5 5 4
    Thielen, Cynthia (R) 50 2 2 2 2 2
    Tokioka, James K. (D) 15 4 4 4 4 4
    Tsuji, Clift (D) 3 4 4 4 4 4
    Ward, Gene (R) 17 1 1 2 2 1
    Wooley, Jessica (D) 47 – 3 4 4 4
    Yamane, Ryan I. (D) 37 4 3 4 4 4
    Yamashita, Kyle T. (D) 12 4 3 4 4 4

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