The members of the association included representatives of construction companies, building supply companies and smaller contractors in East Hawaii. Ted was asked to talk about pending legislation that would affect contractors.

Ted recognized that association members help drive our local economy and are too often ignored by Legislators. He urged them to use their voice to be heard at this legislative session and in this election year. He pointed out a particularly bad piece of legislation, HB2520, HD2, which requires all employers to give every employee 2 weeks of TDI for family leave. Although the idea sounds good, Ted noted that the proposed law is a poorly worded combination of the TDI and Family Leave law.

In order to create a paid family leave program, the Legislature is pairing two fundamentally incompatible laws and hoping for a hybrid. It won't work. Ted cautioned that the law will increase employers' costs, this new form of paid family leave may not be covered by TDI insurance, will spark more lawsuits and is simply a dishonest way of creating a new government mandated program. If the Legislature wants to create a paid Family Leave Program, Ted told the association that it should simply amend the Family Leave law and be upfront with employers and voters. Ted urged all the association members to contact their legislators to stop this very badly worded and poorly crafted proposal.

Association members were visibly concerned when Ted pointed out the State's Department of Budget and Finance's projection for the State Highway Fund. Already rated 46th in the nation for the worst roadways, the State Highway Fund is projected to run a deficit of $85.9 million in fiscal year 2009. In fiscal year 2010, the deficit will be $95.6 million. When asked why there is a deficit, Ted reminded the association members that the Legislature raided the State Highway Fund for about 10 years to cover their overspending. As Chairman of the House Finance Committee, Rep. Dwight Takamine, was directly responsible for using the Highway Fund to fuel the Legislature's credit card spending mentality. Association members noted that the raids don't make good financial sense because the federal government pays $3 for every dollar the State puts up for highways. One association member noted that with the federal government running a huge deficit, federal funds will dwindle and we'll have that much less to fix our roads.

Ted pointed to the bridges along the Hamakua coastline that are in dire need of replacement and noted that without the availability of a robust State Highway Fund, the replacement of these aging and potentially dangerous bridges will be delayed.

Ted concluded his remarks that association members have to find and use their voice in the current Legislature and upcoming election. "It's not about electing pro-business legislators, it's simply about electing legislators that have a balanced perspective between business and employees," Ted said. Association members agreed that there is no balance and their voice and concerns are simply being ignored by current legislators. Ted told the members that this is the time for change and to have their voice heard.