Govermor's Line Item Veto

625 Keawe St, Honolulu, HI 96813 (808) 537-3078

TESTIMONY

COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Wednesday, February 27, 2002 10:00 a.m.
Conference Room 308
State Capitol
415 South Beretania Street

Re: HB1810

Description:
Proposes a constitutional amendment to repeal the governor's line item veto.

Dear Committee Members:

We oppose HB1810

This line item veto is a good tool to rein in ever expanding government spending.

A fiscally conservative Governor could use this tool to better serve the Great People of Hawaii by eliminating inefficient, wasteful, and improper Government spending.

"The Government which governs least governs best.'

This quote by one of our great founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, is as true today as it was when it was first uttered.

The amount of governing is directly proportional to the amount of government spending.

Therefore, any tool which facilitates reducing government spending is good.

Please study the following table:

The 4 quadrants of efficient money use.

	For that Individual	For Other People
An Individual's Money	1) Most Efficient	2) Efficient
Other Peoples Money	3) Less Efficient	4) Least Efficient

Most everyone can see the truth demonstrated by this table.

Examples:

1) An individual buys a meal for his or her self. Most people know what kind of food they like.

2) An individual buys a meal for someone else. They may not know what this other person likes to eat or even if this other person is hungry.

3) A politician on a junket uses his or her government expense account to buy an expensive meal which may be fattening and not necessarily good for their waistline or the prosperity of the taxpayers.

4) A politician on a junket throws a lavish dinner party for others in hopes of buying friendship or favors and again is not necessarily good for their waistlines or the prosperity of the taxpayers.

Government spending is almost always in quadrant 4.

Clearly, it is most efficient for individuals to manage their own money.

We now see the wisdom in Thomas Jefferson's

"The Government which governs least governs best.'

Please oppose HB1810 and take a step towards quadrant 1.

Sincerely:

John Orendt