Saturday, July 07, 2007
RINO Lingle Hurts Small Business, Tourism
Malia Zimmerman has a must read report posted at the Hawaii Reporter on the effects of Hawaii's draconian smoking ban:
Of course, it was the Democratic legislature that passed the smoking ban along with the other taxes and regulations listed above. We have come to expect such fascist and business hostile measures from Hawaii's Democrats; it's who they are. Lingle, who poses as a Republican, has gone along with this agenda. Getting that senate seat by making nice with the Democrats is more important to Lingle than providing the producers and small businesses of Hawaii some relief from Democratic depredations.
When Hawaii’s statewide smoking ban went into effect last November and smoking became illegal in any private restaurant, bar, building, airport or public facility, both bar and restaurants owners took a big financial hit – one many haven’t recovered from.
That – combined with skyrocketing property taxes on commercial properties, commercial rent increases, rising sewer and water fees, booming employee costs for medical, workers comp and unemployment comp, the 12.5 percent increase to the General Tax that went into effect January 1, 2007, and the 6 cent bottle tax, and minimum wage hike – are all too much for some businesses. Thus, the sudden closures of a number of restaurants around the state in recent months including Stuart Andersons (dba The Cattle Company) in Ward; TGI Fridays in both Honolulu locations; and Jackie Chan’s in Ala Moana Center, just to name a few.
The smoking ban has made international news – and not in a positive way in places like Japan, where according to JapanGuide.com, “The smoking rate among adult men is almost 50%, while for women it is below 15%.”
Gov. Linda Lingle, who signed the smoking ban legislation into law, acknowledged after returning from a trip to Japan this past June that Japanese tourism has been impacted.
Lingle blames the Japanese media for incorrectly reporting the parameters of the ban, saying smoking is illegal throughout Hawaii. (Although the ban is broad requiring smokers be 20 feet or more away from any door or window of any restaurant, bar, office building, or public facility, smokers can still enjoy this legal activity in homes, cars and in public parks and beaches.)
Lingle says she “re-educated” Japanese government officials about the issue in hopes the message will translate to potential visitors.
Of course, it was the Democratic legislature that passed the smoking ban along with the other taxes and regulations listed above. We have come to expect such fascist and business hostile measures from Hawaii's Democrats; it's who they are. Lingle, who poses as a Republican, has gone along with this agenda. Getting that senate seat by making nice with the Democrats is more important to Lingle than providing the producers and small businesses of Hawaii some relief from Democratic depredations.
# posted by Grant Jones @ 2:48 PM 
Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home
<< Home
