Urgent: Another Hearing - Ways and Means Committee

The Senate Ways and Means Committee has scheduled a decision
making meeting THIS FRIDAY, February 25 and they will be
accepting only written testimony-no oral testimony. So for
those of you who already wrote one PLEASE make sure you submit
it ASAP. If you have time IT'S NOT TOO LATE to write one AND
PHONE CALLS are very IMPORTANT. This is THE TIME to take action
if you want to preserve our democracy in Hawaii in helping to
ensure verifiable elections!
Encourage your friends and neighbors to join you in this
important action! MAHALO!!



Dear Friends,


Urgent: Action re: Paper Audit Capability for Electronic Voting Machines


Another Hearing: The Ways and Means Committee in the Hawaii Senate will hold a
hearing on SB 1325, Relating to Electronic Voting this FRIDAY, February 25, 2005 at
9:30 a.m. in Conference Room 211. All electronic voting in Hawaii beginning with
the next election (2006) will be requiring a paper trail which can be verified by a
voter and audited if this bill passes.

You can help in one or more of the following ways:

1. Telephone the offices of the Chairman, Senator Taniguchi, and the Vice Chairman,
Senator Tsutsui, and at least one additional Senator (see list below) today or as
soon as possible and ask the staff member to tell the Senators that you support SB
1325 (because you believe every vote should be counted and able to be audited.)
Please be courteous. Most legislators are supportive. If you get an answering
machine, leave the message.

Ways and Means Committee Members
Senator Brian T. Taniguchi, Chair
District 10 - Manoa, Moiliili, McCully, Makiki
586-6460

Senator Shan S. Tsutsui, Vice-Chair
District 4 - Wailuku, Waihee, Kahului, Paia, Lower Paia
586-7344

Senator J. Kalani English
District 6 - Kahoolawe, Molokini, Lanai, Molokai, Haiku, Upcountry, Hana
587-7225; from Maui, toll free 984-2400 + 77225; from Molokai and Lanai, toll free
1-800-468-4644 + 77225

Senator Will Espero
District 20 - Waipahu, Ewa, Ewa Beach, West Loch
586-6360

Senator Carol Fukunaga
District11 - McCully, Tantalus, Punchbowl, Honolulu
586-6890

Senator Gary L. Hooser
District 7 - Kauai, Niihau
586-6030; from Kauai, toll free 274-3141 + 66030

Senator Lorraine R. Inouye
District 1 - Honokaa, Laupahoehoe, Hamakua, Waiakea Uka, Keaukaha, Waimea
586-7335; from the Big Island, toll free 974-4000 + 6335



Senator Brian Kanno
District 19 - Village Park, Makakilo, Kapolei, Waipahu, Waikele
586-6830

Senator Donna Mercado Kim
District 14 - Moanalua, Aiea, Fort Shafter, Kalihi Valley, Halawa Valley
587-7200

Senator Russell S. Kokubun
District 2 - Waiakea Uka, Kalapana, Volcano, Kahuku
586-6760

Senator Clarence K. Nishihara
District 18 - Waipahu, Pearl City, Manana
586-6970

Senator Norman Sakamoto
District 15 - Moanalua, Salt Lake, Foster Village, Pearl Harbor
586-8585

Republican Members
Senator Fred Hemmings
District 25 - Kailua, Lanikai, Waimanalo, Hawaii Kai
587-8388

Senator Sam Slom
District 8 - Hawaii Kai, Aina Haina, Kahala, Diamond Head
586-8420

Senator Gordon Trimble
District 12 - Kapahulu, Waikiki, Ala Moana, Kakaako, Downtown
586-7100
and/or

2. You can submit a written testimony supporting SB 1325, to the Sergeant-at-Arms
(Oahu Fax 586-6659) (Neighbor Islands Fax 1-800-586-6659) or
submit by email: testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov

and/or

3. You can attend the hearing: FRIDAY, February 25, 2005 at 9:30 a.m., Conference
Room 211, Hawaii State Capitol.



Please do at least one of the above. If you have questions, telephone or e-mail me.
Phone: 941-9624 or Email: portr001@hawaii.rr.com



Richard Port
Democratic National
Committeeman

Here is a guide to how to write testimony for a Hawaii Legislative hearing. It comes
from the Hawaii Legislature's website, where you can also find more information on
the process:
<http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/info/guide/process04.asp?press1=info&press2=guide>

Our Senate bill is SB1325. The Friday hearing will be on the SENATE bill, so the
testimony should be addressed to:

Senator Brian Taniguchi, Chair
Senator Shan Tsutsui, Vice-Chair
Senate Ways and Means Committee

See the information below for information on how to format your testimony.

NOTE: you do not need to be an expert on the issue to express your views on its
importance. We will have testifiers who have expertise on the issues. Additional
testimony demonstrates to the legislators that there is broader interest in the
issue than just the people who have already been meeting with them. If you DO have
relevant expertise or experience, mention that in your testimony.

The testimony should be faxed to the Sgt-at-Arms office at 586-6659 (OAHU) or
1-800-586-6659 (NEIGHBOR ISLANDS).
When faxing, please indicate that the testimony is for the Senate Ways and Means
Committee hearing to be held February 25th at 9:30 a.m. Faxed testimony should be
sent 24 hours in advance of the hearing, so it should be sent by 9:30 a.m. on
Thursday, but if you must send it late, please do so as it probably will be
accepted.

WRITTEN TESTIMONY OUTLINE

CHAIR OF THE HOUSE OR SENATE COMMITTEE
NAME OF THE HOUSE OR SENATE COMMITTEE

Your name
The group or organization that you represent (if any)
A contact number or address

Day and Date of Hearing

Your position on the measure and the bill or resolution number, and draft number
(if any)

Introduction:
1. Introduce who you are and/or the group or organization that you represent;
2. State the measure you are testifying on; and
3. State your position on the measure (e.g., "I am testifying in favor of/in support
of . . . ." or "I am testifying against/in opposition to .")

Content: State or list the reasons for taking your position, starting with the most
important or compelling reasons. Include any facts, figures, statements, and
experiences to support your position.

Closing:
1. Include any closing remarks; and
2. Reiterate your position on the measure (especially if you did not state your
position previously within the testimony).

SAMPLE WRITTEN TESTIMONY
To: Representative Dwight Y. Takamine, Chair
Representative Noboru Yonamine, Vice-chair
Committee on Labor and Public Employment

From: Hawaii Health Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition

Date: Tuesday, March 19, 1991

Subject: Support of SB 818 S.D. 1, Relating to Family Leave

The Hawaii Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition is part of a national
cooperative group of private and non-profit organizations and individuals committed
to improving maternal and infant health in the State of Hawaii through educational
and advocacy efforts. We strongly support SB 818 S.D. 1, Relating to Family Leave,
which would give employees working for employers of fifty or more employees, the
right to 3 months of unpaid parental leave for the birth or adoption of a son or
daughter of the employee.

People should not be forced to choose between work and family. We have a situation
in the U.S. of supporting children and family in our popular culture, but not fully
supporting them in our social policies. Compared to other industrialized nations,
the U.S. ranks poorly in several key indicators of children's and families' quality
of life. We need to develop social and working policies that adequately support new
lives, and the mental and physical health of families.

Even though a number of businesses are beginning to provide parental leave options,
this act would broaden this protection to more of Hawaii's workforce. Some will
argue that such a policy need not be mandated. Child labor laws had to be mandated,
and we are all glad they were. Our society decided that in some cases the family
needed legal protection. Unpaid parental leave is a modest but vital step toward
recognizing the relationship between job security and family security.

In expanding the options for Hawaii's labor force, we are creating a
health-promoting atmosphere and a foundation for future generations of healthy
people and healthy families. We urge the committee to pass SB 818 S.D. 1. Thank you
for this opportunity to testify.