#invest in hawaii act

The Hawai’i Senate passed 197 measures on Tuesday, ahead of tomorrow’s Second Crossover deadline. A key measure that gained passage was House Bill 2145, which includes the Senate’s flagship initiative, known as “The Invest in Hawaii Act of 2012.”

One bill seeks to repeal junior kindergarten programs; another proposes a fee collection for single-use checkout bags; and a separate measure proposes the establishment of a nine-member gambling commission to analyze of the social and economic costs and benefits of different forms of gambling in Hawaii.

Maui Senators say the bill will stimulate the economy and enable the state to generate or sustain more than 5,000 jobs. Here on Maui more than 50% of unionized carpenters are on the bench.

Tsutsui said he expects that by the end of next week, the Senate will roll out a bipartisan initiative entitled “The Invest in Hawaii Act of 2012.” The bill is aimed at cutting into the state’s maintenance backlog, and immediately create jobs for local residents.