Legislators Celbrate ‘Science and Tech Day’ at the State Capitol
Wednesday, March 29th, 2006
Legislators celebrated the 5th Annual ‘Science and Tech Day’ at the State Capitol on March 29th. The event was sponsored by the Hawaii Science & Technology Council, the Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii, the Hawaii Venture Capitol Association, and Hawaii Pacific Entertainment. Several legislators, local science and tech industry leaders, educators and students participated and attended a reception showcasing over 100 of Hawaii’s science and tech companies.
Lawmakers in both houses have advanced a number of bills this session aimed at encouraging and improving Hawaii’s agricultural industry. The bills range from repairing and maintaining aging irrigation systems throughout the state (a top priority for Senator Russell Kokubun, Chair of the Senate Committee on Water, Land and Agriculture), to increasing the amount of emergency loans available to farmers, to allocating more resources to enhance agricultural research and marketing.
The House Committee on Health advanced two key public health bills on March 20th aimed at protecting the public from the dangerous effects of secondhand smoke and decreasing teenage tobacco consumption. 
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing advanced legislation on March 16th to help keep the Kukui Gardens housing complex affordable for its nearly 2,500 residents. Kukui Gardens’ owners agreed to provide local residents with affordable housing until 2011 as a condition for initial funding they received from HUD 36 years ago. The Committee recommended passage of 
Senators presented artists and a producer of the 2006 Grammy Award for best Hawaiian Album, with Certificates of Achievement on March 13th. 
Senator Shan S. Tsutsui (D-Central Maui) will be will be holding a “Talk Story” at the Maui Waena Intermediate School Library on Saturday, March 11, 2006 from 10:00am to 11:30am. All members of the community are welcome to join the Senator to discuss community concerns and current actions pending in the 2006 Legislature.
In recognition of his 58 years of public service, the Senate presented retiring Hawaii Protocol Officer Francis Lum with a Certificate of Appreciation and Aloha for his long distinguished service to the State of Hawaii. Senators also took a moment to personally greet Mr. Lum and thank him for his 40-year dedication as the State’s protocol officer. Mr. Lum has served 5 governors, beginning with Governor John A. Burns, as the State’s protocol officer.
In response to recent reports that many poor families in Hawaii must still pay income taxes despite poverty level incomes, Senate President Bunda repeated his call for a more equitable income tax structure. He contends that raising the standard deduction to 50% of the federal level would benefit 60% of Hawaii’s taxpayers, including those who need it most — poor and middle class families.
The Senate Committee on Ways and Means advanced a bill on March 2nd that requires the DOE to establish a model curriculum for each grade level in Hawaii’s public schools. SB 3059, introduced by Senator Norman Sakamoto, calls for the model curriculum to be in place by the 2008-09 school year. If passed, the bill will create a structured curriculum for all public schools and help meet No Child Left Behind performance standards.
