ACTION NEEDED: Oppose GET Tax Increase Today!

Action Alert

	Hearing on Proposed GET Increase Wednesday, April 6 in WAM Committee

ALOHA Chamber Members:
The Senate Ways and Means Committee has scheduled a hearing on a bill that INCREASES THE GENERAL USE TAX as an option to raise revenue to balance the State's budget. 
HB 793-Proposed SD1 is being heard on Wednesday, April 6 at 9:30 am in the auditorium at the State Capitol (Hearing Notice).
Please submit testimony by 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 6. We also encourage you to attend the hearing. 
HB 793, Proposed SD1, proposes to:

• Temporarily increase the GET and public service company tax rates by 1% from October 1, 2011, to September 30, 2013.
• Temporarily provides food and other tax credits. Effective July 1, 2011; repeals on June 30, 2015.
• Temporarily suspends tax exemptions for certain persons and certain amounts of gross income or proceeds from the GET and requires the payment of tax.

If you have any questions, please e-mail smenor-mcnamara@cochawaii.org.
Go to this link to take ACTION NOW!
http://www.capwiz.com/hawaiichamber/issues/alert/?alertid=39273501&PROCESS=Take+Action
Mahalo,
Antya

Work Comp Bills Hearing on Tuesday

Aloha!

The House Labor Committee has already scheduled two workers' compensation bills that crossed over from the Senate. These bills are moving fast! If they pass the Labor Committee and the Finance Committee schedules them right away, the bills could be sent up to the Governor's office during session, meaning if the Governor vetoes the bills, the Legislature could still override the bills during session. The bills are:

SB 62 Workers' Comp (IME)

SB 695 Workers' Comp (Uninterrupted Medical Treatment)

These bills will be heard on Tuesday, March 3 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 309. Please encourage your members to submit testimony. Please feel free to use the Legislative Action Center website (http://www.cocaction.com/mx/hm.asp?id=LAC), which will enable your members to submit testimony instantly.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your support.

Sherry Menor-McNamara

'Card Check' Bill: Are you impacted?

Dear Chamber Member,

You are receiving this e-mail either because you may be directly impacted by this bill or if the bill passes, it sets a precedence and provides momentum towards the national movement which will have far-reaching implications and change the scope of how business is done, which in turn, will affect your business and your employees’ free choice in determining labor representation.

HB 2974 denies employees the right to a secret ballot election when deciding whether or not to have a union representation in the workplace and forces arbitration if the employer and union cannot come to an agreement with a certain time period. This bill currently applies to some small businesses, non-profits and agricultural workers.

If vetoed, the Legislature can still override the bill during session. We’ve been sending “Action Alerts” and e-newsletters on this bill, however, we cannot stress enough how important it is for you to take action and send letters to your legislators.

We are running out of time. Please take action via one of the following ways by this Wednesday:

"do not override the veto" letter to your legislators (pre-written message provided) – preferable action

"give permission" to list your company on the Chamber letter to the legislators requesting them not to override the veto

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your time and support.

Sincerely,
Sherry Menor-McNamara

PARTICIPATE: ENHANCE YOUR STANCE!