The following commentary was published originally in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on March 7, 2023. __________ A new federal “Yes In My Backyard” grant program, spearheaded by Hawaii’s U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, deserves kudos for targeting barriers to new housing. The purpose of the program, enacted in December as a part
The following commentary was originally published March 5, 2023, by the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. ___________ Hawaii island’s housing supply might get a boost in the near future, thanks to an effort underway to update the county’s zoning code. A project team working with the Hawaii County Department of Planning has been
Hawaii’s state sales tax rate is often ranked among the lowest rates in the nation. But comparing Hawaii’s version of a sales tax to that of other states is like comparing apples and oranges because Hawaii doesn’t have a normal sales tax. In fact, technically, Hawaii doesn’t have a sales
The following article was published originally on Feb. 4 in Travel Weekly. ____________ A U.S. maritime law enacted during the days before air travel is exporting American tourism dollars to countries such as Canada, Mexico and Aruba. The 1886 Passenger Vessel Services Act does this by preventing foreign-flagged or -built
A proposed certification scheme for community health workers would burden the workers and raise prices for everyone, according to a new report by Hawaii Office of the State Auditor.[1] The document, “Sunrise Analysis: Regulation of Community Health Workers,” issued in September, follows a long string of state auditor reports that
The following article was first published Sept. 27, 2022, by the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy in New Hampshire. The original headline was “How a protectionist shipping law could leave New England out in the cold.” ____________ Will New England have enough fuel this winter? The region’s six governors
Photos by Charley Myers Even supporters of the 102-year-old federal shipping law admit that its restrictions on competition add to the cost of our fuels With inflation at a 40-year high and per-gallon gasoline prices averaging $4.44 a gallon nationally and $5.60 in Hawaii,[1] politicians, business owners and the public
Barge on Mississippi River at Memphis The following article was published originally on July 10, 2022, in the Daily Memphian, based in Memphis, Tenn. ____________ The Fourth of July is a time of remembrance for Americans. We celebrate our country’s independence from English rule and the harmful laws and taxes
Photo courtesy of Maritime Hawai‘i “Houston, we have a problem.”* That’s because America just lost another ship from its ever-dwindling Jones Act fleet, an oil tanker named the Houston that counted the islands of Hawaii among its ports of call. After 37 years of service, including many visits to Hawaii,
A Washington Times article claims the 1920 law is “pro-American,” but with friends like the Jones Act, who needs enemies? It is a popular misconception that the federal maritime law known as the Jones Act supports American industry and jobs. A recent commentary in the Washington Times, for example, was
The following commentary was published originally in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on March 7, 2023. __________ A new federal “Yes In My Backyard” grant program, spearheaded by Hawaii’s U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, deserves kudos for targeting barriers to new housing. The purpose of the program, enacted in December as a part
The following commentary was originally published March 5, 2023, by the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. ___________ Hawaii island’s housing supply might get a boost in the near future, thanks to an effort underway to update the county’s zoning code. A project team working with the Hawaii County Department of Planning has been
Hawaii’s state sales tax rate is often ranked among the lowest rates in the nation. But comparing Hawaii’s version of a sales tax to that of other states is like comparing apples and oranges because Hawaii doesn’t have a normal sales tax. In fact, technically, Hawaii doesn’t have a sales
The following article was published originally on Feb. 4 in Travel Weekly. ____________ A U.S. maritime law enacted during the days before air travel is exporting American tourism dollars to countries such as Canada, Mexico and Aruba. The 1886 Passenger Vessel Services Act does this by preventing foreign-flagged or -built
A proposed certification scheme for community health workers would burden the workers and raise prices for everyone, according to a new report by Hawaii Office of the State Auditor.[1] The document, “Sunrise Analysis: Regulation of Community Health Workers,” issued in September, follows a long string of state auditor reports that
The following article was first published Sept. 27, 2022, by the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy in New Hampshire. The original headline was “How a protectionist shipping law could leave New England out in the cold.” ____________ Will New England have enough fuel this winter? The region’s six governors
Photos by Charley Myers Even supporters of the 102-year-old federal shipping law admit that its restrictions on competition add to the cost of our fuels With inflation at a 40-year high and per-gallon gasoline prices averaging $4.44 a gallon nationally and $5.60 in Hawaii,[1] politicians, business owners and the public
Barge on Mississippi River at Memphis The following article was published originally on July 10, 2022, in the Daily Memphian, based in Memphis, Tenn. ____________ The Fourth of July is a time of remembrance for Americans. We celebrate our country’s independence from English rule and the harmful laws and taxes
Photo courtesy of Maritime Hawai‘i “Houston, we have a problem.”* That’s because America just lost another ship from its ever-dwindling Jones Act fleet, an oil tanker named the Houston that counted the islands of Hawaii among its ports of call. After 37 years of service, including many visits to Hawaii,
A Washington Times article claims the 1920 law is “pro-American,” but with friends like the Jones Act, who needs enemies? It is a popular misconception that the federal maritime law known as the Jones Act supports American industry and jobs. A recent commentary in the Washington Times, for example, was
