Cayetano did not kill ‘pay to play’

I respectfully disagree with Bob Watada’s statement that then-Gov. Ben Cayetano led the charge to stop campaign finance corruption in 1995 with Act 10. That legislation focused on the process of reporting contributions.

The legislation to ban all direct political contributions from government contractors, unions and corporations to local elected officials who issue contracts was Senate Bill 2431. Cayetano vetoed it, even though it was supported by Watada and the attorney general.

The Legislature passed that bill in 2002, when the Campaign Spending Commission had fined numerous architecture and engineering firms for exceeding the legal limit of contributions.

They gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to numerous campaigns, including Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris and Cayetano.

Shortly after Cayetano’s veto, Watada was quoted in the June 25 edition of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin: "The measure would have gone a long way toward restoring the public’s confidence in Hawaii government which has been tarnished by recent headlines about excessive campaign contributions."

Ben Cayetano had a chance to stop the "pay-to-play" culture in 2002, but didn’t.

John White
Executive director, Pacific Resource Partnership

Use cats to control isles rat population

A natural, less expensive and less poisonous way to control rats would be simple and more productive.

There are numerous stories that support the usefulness of cats from the time of Egyptian pharaohs, to granaries, farms and local business places.

Why not gather 20 or 30 altered cats and put them to work? These cats would probably be euthanized otherwise, so spare them and let them be useful. The cats could clean up the problem, maintain the vigilance and not reproduce but maintain their numbers.

A few years ago, an article in this newspaper said thousands of cats were euthanized each year. The problem of overpopulation didn’t stop. What was later found out was that cats in managed colonies were healthy and lived out their natural lives without reproducing.

If the city wants to get rid of a real pest, try exterminating the mongoose. They kill the young birds, raid trash receptacles and even threaten small animals.

Karen Sisler
Honolulu

Wooley would be better than Chong

I was disappointed in your expressed preference for election in House District 48 ("Reapportionment give voters way to remake House," Star-Advertiser, Our View, July 26).

While Rep. Pono Chong may be a political insider with the current House leadership, he is not the better representative of our district.

Rep. Jessica Wooley has been an intelligent, hard-working and steady representative of her district and her constituents. She is very effective, and brings a fresh, badly needed perspective to the Legislature of putting the welfare of people first, ahead of political ambitions and self interest.

She is much deserving of praise for this, and certainly is deserving of re-election.

Wooley is not only the steadier hand on the steering paddle, she sets a far better course.

John B. Goody
Kahaluu

Seniors should pay more to ride bus

I thoroughly agree with Rosita Sipirok-Siregar that the senior/ disability bus pass is way too cheap ("Seniors bus pass is really cheap," Star-Advertiser, Letters, June 8).

I, too, am a senior citizen on a fixed income but I think the fares are completely unfair to the regular riders. Thirty dollars a year compared to $60 a month is completely lopsided. I feel the passes should be raised at least $10 — maybe even $20 to be fair to all riders.

Why should regular riders pay 90 percent of the fares? I really don’t think a couple of dollars more a month would hurt anyone’s finances.

Let’s be fair about this!

Margaret Sandoval
Honolulu

Tax structure leads to big government

If we want to have a smaller government, then we need a broad-based income tax where everyone pays something.

It should be progressive so that it is more effective at raising money, but even lower-income people should pay, even if it is as small an amount as $25.

The reason you want everyone to have skin in the game is so that when someone proposes that government should grow, more people will protest.

The consequence of the current tax system, where the rich pay most of the federal expenses, is that you end up with a government that is too big.

A broad-based income tax would lead to a leaner, more efficient government.

Lloyd Lim
Makiki

Show Colt aloha for his generosity

C’mon people, where’s the aloha?

Colt Brennan gave his all as a Warrior at the University of Hawaii, and was most generous with his time when it came to community service.

His path has brought him to this time and place — a man facing the reality that his dream might just remain a dream. The last thing he needs is to be thrown under the proverbial bus.

Send aloha — pray for him. Pray for better times ahead. We all benefit if he emerges a better Colt.

Neal Ikeda
Kaneohe