End GE Tax on Medical Services

Dear Editor     May 20, 2024

Aloha.

There is one misconception in all of this discussion of GE Tax on medical services. Hospitals are labeled "non-profit" instead of "not-for-profit".

It implies that doctors and dentists in private practice or small clinics actually MAKE A PROFIT - which they may or may not. All there is is that they are not set up as a 501(c)(3), which I know from my friends at HVERI.org may take some time and probably also money.

As somebody who has medical insurance I get billed for GET and I don't mind that. Given that the medicare/medicaid/tricare reimbursements are low, making doctors/dentists and small clinics who/that are not set up as a 501(c)(3) pay the GE Tax basically out of pocket while probably still paying on student loans is what creates the doctor shortage here, especially in rural areas.

Health care access here on Hawai'i Island is sorely needed, and getting rid of the GET on medical services would probably help with that.

Mahalo,

Maren Purves

Hilo, Hawaii

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Open Letter: Republican State Convention Delegates Should Reject Rule Changes

UPDATE: Rules Changes Rejected

Dear Editor:  May 2, 2024

Hawaii’s Republican Convention is set for May 4 and 5, 2024 at Mililani HS. Aside from electing National Committee representatives and adopting a platform, the proposed agenda squeezes in a massive set of Rules changes, far beyond what’s needed and of momentous harm to the rights of Party members.

The proposed changes would remove all the elected officials’ voting rights, and all the hardworking auxiliaries' voting rights on the State Committee. Great idea: kick out the few people who know how to get elected, and slap the long serving, capable auxiliaries in the face.

A political party is the ONLY entity that can legally coordinate with candidates for election, and also needs allied organizations. Why would any candidate or like-minded organization cooperate with a Party that does that?

Proposed rules also disrespect the hardworking presidential campaign volunteers who’ll be replaced by connected Party activists for national delegations. The proposed change to a winner-take-all caucus would violate RNC rules and therefore risk losing half the Party’s delegation. It would also kill our attractiveness to multiple Presidential campaigns who come early in the season to get proportional delegates.

The proposed changes would also permanently establish the bad practice of allowing unelected Party representatives, perennial appointees who don’t return to their district membership for competitive election, to hold voting positions indefinitely. And the changes will cut out members who couldn’t attend some meetings from having any rights to object to lack of notice or other abuses.

Convention delegates’ will not be allowed to reasonably consider, debate, and adjust proposed amendments.  Instead the proposed convention agenda calls for an up or down vote on the entire set of rules changes.

I’m urging fellow Republican delegates to just vote ‘NO’ when the Rules come up at the Republican State Convention on Saturday, May 4, 2024.  

Mahalo,

Boyd Ready, Haleiwa, Oahu

2024 Convention Alternate