Session Wrap at HVCA – May 26, 2011
Posted in Commentary, Issues, Legislature on 20. Jun, 2011
Senator Slom speaks before the Hawaii Venture Capital Association. Video by Jay Fidell, Think Tech Hawaii.
Category : Commentary
Recent Video Clips Featuring Senator Slom
Posted in Commentary, Legislature, News on 27. May, 2011
News Behind the News: Senator Slom & Dr. Panos Prevedouros
Senate Minority Report: Legislative Wrap-Up
Regarding the TSA and Intrusive Airport Security
“No Alternative” State Budget
Town Hall Meeting with Rep. Gene Ward
Why’s Obama Spending Millions To Conceal His Records
Posted in Commentary, News on 11. Apr, 2011
Senator Slom interviewed on Boston’s “Talk 1200″ AM – the subject? President Obama’s birth certificate.
Senate Minority Report – March 22, 2011
Posted in Commentary, Issues, Legislature, News on 09. Apr, 2011
Senator Slom held his 5th scheduled news conference today. Discussion focused on the budget, PUC Commissioner and taxes.
No Emergency Exists to Warrant Passage of HB 1034 SD1
Posted in Commentary, Issues, Legislature, News on 09. Apr, 2011
By State Senator Sam Slom
As published in HawaiiReporter.com
March 21, 2011
The Hawaii State Senate fast-tracked HB 1034, SD1, an “emergency” appropriation bill to the Governor on March 16. I opposed this measure.
This bill originated from the Governor. There was no “emergency” to rush its passage other than the Governor and unions wanted it now.
The bill calls for taxpayers to pay $18 million-plus to the state employee health fund, EUTF, (in addition to another budget appropriation for the EUTF), to offset union medical premium increases because of the Governor’s promise to the labor unions on the day of his inauguration in December, 2010.
This was not the result of collective bargaining—there is currently a collective bargaining contract in effect—it was a political promise by the Governor to increase the taxpayer subsidy for union workers from 50% to 60% of their medical premiums.
We simply cannot afford this increase at this time and it is unfair to private sector employers and employees who must pay for their own premiums and those of union government workers too.
The House Committee Report (HSCR 910) states in part, “…this emergency appropriation …is not and should not be construed as an approval or agreement by this Legislature to any cost item or any level of employer contribution after June 30, 2011.”
But this action is an approval by the Legislature.
On a Senate roll call vote of 24 present, the vote was 22-2 with Senators Hee and Slom voting no.
The Governor signed this bill into law as Act 6.
