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Meanwhile, tourism has tanked, thousands of businesses have been sidelined or destroyed, almost 250,000 formerly productive workers have filed for unemployment. and tax revenues have dried up, leaving our state and counties looking at either massive deficits, big cuts in spending \u2014 or both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Unfortunately, Hawaii policymakers in recent years have spent much of the state\u2019s budgetary surplus on nonemergency items, and now it\u2019s a struggle for them to deal with the current health and economic emergencies. Obviously, our lawmakers should be cautious about spending money they don\u2019t have, especially since it\u2019s not clear where that money will come from.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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We also need to worry about our unfunded public liabilities, which will only get worse if this recession persists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Our best hope to get our lives, businesses and communities back on track is greater economic freedom. In more mainstream quarters, the preference for bigger government has dominated the discussion, but isle policymakers should examine how shrinking government could make a difference. Roll back some of the regulations and taxes that have made it so hard to operate in Hawaii all along. They were a problem before; they are even more of a barrier now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Ironically, some of the emergency measures proclaimed by Gov. David Ige are actually worth keeping, even after the coronavirus emergency has passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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A perfect example was the allowing out-of-state medical professionals to practice here. It was one of the most positive actions taken so far to help Hawaii residents through the crisis, and it involved removing government barriers, not enacting them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Other emergency measures we hope will remain permanent include loosening restrictions on telehealth, allowing prescriptions from out-of-state doctors and nurses, and waiving licensing requirements for childcare. Such measures would be beneficial to the state \u2014 and the state\u2019s public health \u2014 long after the coronavirus danger has receded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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In terms of accountable government, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii recently joined other watchdog organizations, such as Common Cause Hawaii and the ACLU, to challenge the governor\u2019s suspension of the state\u2019s open-meetings and open-records laws. Government transparency is critical to a healthy democracy \u2014 all the more so during a crisis when public trust is paramount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Hawaii to get back on its feet again, isle residents need flexibility and incentives to pursue prosperity for themselves, their families and their communities. Open, accountable government also is critical, if we are truly to be in charge of those policymakers who presume to act on our behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, we have been struggling in this time of adversity, but no matter what the challenges, greater economic freedom and limited, accountable government \u2014 adopted as quickly as possible \u2014 are what Hawaii needs<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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JOE KENT<\/strong> is executive vice president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Any opinions, advice, or statements contained in our Open Forum section are those of the author and\/or the organization represented, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle board\u2019s editorial staff.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As the coronavirus crisis has deepened during the past two months, the Grassroot Institute 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