by Willes Lee, Chairman, Hawai`i Republican Party

There are a lot of good reasons to hold vote Yes for a ConCon this year:

School Performance

Given the continued poor performance of our public education system; with a ranking near the bottom for 30 years despite current spending of $2.5 billion; with a costly and bloated bureaucracy; and with the consistent reluctance of our Legislature to do anything about it…

1. Do we need smaller, local school boards to address the needs of each community?

2. Do we need a charter school “bill of rights” to ensure adequate funding?

Initiative & Referendum

Given that our citizens have no form of statewide public initiative or referendum to debate issues such as Mass Transit and Aloha Stadium vs. new stadium…

3. Should citizens be allowed to vote on important state issues?

Taxes

When times were good and government has excess revenue….

4. Should we provide for a mandatory tax refund of excess revenue as opposed to a token $1?

5. Should voters be allowed to approve proposed tax increases?

State-County Relationships

Given our combined Federal, State and County taxes make us one of the highest taxed states in the nation…

6. Can we do away with duplication of services in: Roadways/transportation, Law enforcement, Land use & water management, Parks, and Voter registration?

Legislature

Given we have the lowest voter turnout in the nation and voters have become apathetic because they believe no one cares about their concerns…

7. Do we need term limits for legislators?

8. Does the legislature need to convene every year?

Executive Branch

Given the problems we have seen with the Office of Elections…

9. Should we have an elected Secretary of State with accountability at Office of Elections

Elections

Given how hard it is to get qualified people to run for office…

10. Should Hawai`i move to public financing for elections?

Our State Constitution is a living, evolving document. This is why the founders of our state provided that our citizens be given the opportunity to hold a constitutional convention at least every ten years. These ten issues and many others could be dealt with if we allow the people to discuss and implement the change our state desperately needs.

Let’s vote Yes on a ConCon.