David,

First of all, the state isn't giving any tax money. It's allowing people to risk
their own money to build new, tax-paying businesses.

Second, if there's a choice between pumping more money where it has irrefutably
proven to be completely ineffective (more money in DOE has not resulted in
better education, by any measure) vs letting people risk their own money in a
program which by DOT's own measures has created jobs, wealth, and investment,
I'll take the latter any day.

Finally, right now the dominant industry (tourism) doesn't need college grads
and our DOE complies by producing substandard quality. Only if there's a
workplace demand for highly educated workers will there be places for UH grads
to work and a market demand for better education.

Act 221 has been, by far, the most successful program we've ever seen to create
this workplace demand. Kill that, and you kill the only program that's creating
the jobs and economy we all want.



--- In Bytemarks@yahoogroups.com, "J. David Beutel" <jdb@...> wrote:
>
> Before complaining about scaling back Act 221, you might want to include
> in those position papers why the state should continue giving any tax
> money to business owners while the governor withholds hundreds of
> millions of dollars from education because of emergency tax shortfalls.
>
>
> Todd Cochrane wrote:
> >
> >
> > Sad
> >
> > Thing is the Dems have vowed to over-ride so you better get on the phone
> > not email with your reps and start talking to them..
> >
> > We need to all come together and start laying out position papers that
> > at least a number of us can put our company names and signatures to.
> > These folks need to understand the real impact here. Lets use the web
> > to our advantage after all where geeks and if anyone can do this we can.
> >
> > Maybe its time for a Tech PAC here in Hawaii. I am more than happy to
> > break my check book out.
> >
> > Todd..
> >
> > Peter Kay wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > While I'm really, really tempted to debate you, Larry, on the merits
> > > of your "trillions given to rich bankers" claim, I'm going to instead
> > > thank you for the link to the PDF on the guv's veto list.
> > >
> > > Not only is this crappy bill set for veto, but also SB199, whose mere
> > > existence has had a disastrous effect on high tech VC investments
> > already.
> > >
> > > It would be very good for all of us who agree w/ these positions to
> > > send a "You go girl!" email to the governor NOW to let her know our
> > > support.
> > >
> > > Just when I thought we were messed up, this rabbit is coming out of
> > > the hat.
> > >
> > > The larger topic, for another thread, is that it's time high tech in
> > > Hawaii grows up, gets better organized, and becomes a political force.
> > >
> > > --- In Bytemarks@yahoogroups.com
> > <mailto:Bytemarks%40yahoogroups.com>
> > <mailto:Bytemarks%40yahoogroups.com>,
> > > "Larry Geller" <lgeller@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > The bill is on the gov's list of potential vetos, for what it's worth.
> > > >
> > > > --Larry
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>