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Wednesday, October 6, 2010
October 6, 2010 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 3:24 PM :: 12616 Views

Abercrombie: “No new audits--people not interested in how to balance the budget”

Hanabusa's Stimulus Support Could Cost her an Election

UPDATE: Hawaii Christian Coalition compares candidates for General Election

Aiona vs Abercrombie on the Economy: Plan vs platitudes?

New Aiona-Finnegan ad: “Real solutions, not rhetoric”

Aiona Finnegan announce Coalition Team

Abercrombie supported Wall Street Bailouts with Main Street Money

Influencing our culture for life: Vatican leader to speak on Oahu, Maui

Smart Business Hawaii PAC endorses Djou

Djou: Adopt a School Oct 10th

DoE fails to comply with 180 day law -- regular schools have only 178 days

Mililani Middle School, on a three-track schedule, has 152 instructional days this year. Last year there were 141 instructional days, when teacher furlough days further cut the school year.

The other multitracks -- Kapolei Elementary and Middle schools and Holomua Elementary School -- each have about 170 instructional days.

By comparison, regular public schools have 178 instructional days this school year.

Apparently they can’t figure out how to keep some schools open for 180 days of instruction.  Just one more reason to abolish the BoE on Nov 2.

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“Vindictive” Incoming Prosecutor Kaneshiro Firing 11 Veteran Lawyers in middle of trials (1988 redux)

Deputy Prosecutor Michelle Puu was in the middle of jury selection in a robbery trial Tuesday when she got word that she will be terminated Monday, forcing a three-week delay in the trial….

Kaneshiro is also firing Kevin Takata, a deputy prosecutor for 23 years, who's head of the felony trials division. He has more murder convictions than any other lawyer in the office -- and is prosecuting the case of Adam Mau, who's charged with the murder of three people at the Tantalus Lookout.

Criminal defense attorney Myles Breiner said he was one of 13 deputy prosecutors fired by Kaneshiro back when Kaneshiro was first elected prosecutor in 1988. Breiner was in the middle of a murder trial at the time he got the news he’d lost his job, he said.

"He terminated anyone who apparently had any sympathy for his opponent," Breiner said, noting those fired 22 years ago had campaigned for then-incumbent prosecutor Charles Marsland, who lost to Kaneshiro in the 1988 prosecutor’s race.

Breiner claims many of the prosecutors fired this week are people who supported Don Pacarro, one of Kaneshiro's opponents in the special election.

"Yes, I think it's politically motivated," Breiner said. “This is a pattern. He’s a vindictive person.”

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Rep Karl Rhoads, wife tied to Andy Mirkitani kickback scheme

Mirkitani’s trusted senior aide, Cindy McMillan, gave (Mirkitani) a $4,000 campaign contribution…. She was given immunity for her cooperation and testimony. She quickly appeared to benefit by her cooperation and was given a choice position with one of the mayor’s favorite consultants. Later, she was appointed to Councilmember Duke Barnum’s staff. Shortly thereafter, she became a Director for Pacific Communications. Her husband, an attorney, couldn’t keep a job and is now serving as a State Representative (Karl Rhoades).

SB: Mirikitani indicted in federal kick-back plot: The city councilman allegedly had part of two workers' bonuses funneled to his campaign

The indictment said that in mid-July of 1999, Mirikitani gave aide Cindy McMillan $16,916.72 in city funds. McMillan and her husband then gave $4,250 of it to the Friends of Andy Mirikitani campaign fund. Mirikitani deposited the check from McMillan into the campaign account and then withdrew $4,000, the court documents said.

City Council records showed that McMillan was making $3,619.04 a month as Mirikitani's aide when she received a one-time $16,916.72 "adjustment" on June 1, 1999.

RELATED: Rep Karl Rhoads, Oahu Co Democrats try to knock Iraq War Vet off HD 28 ballot

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Abercrombie claims he can create two new State departments without raising taxes 

Democratic gubernatorial contender Neil Abercrombie said his proposals to create a high-level early childhood office, an energy authority and other programs won't require a tax increase.

Eliminating furloughs for state workers will cost about $190 million a year, Aiona said. "I'd like to know exactly where he's going to get that money," he added.

Asked how the state can afford that and implement the programs he is proposing, he suggested that Lingle's budget calculations may be faulty.  "That's one of the reasons we have to actually get in and see their books," (In other words, I won’t tell you until AFTER I’m elected) Abercrombie said in a later interview. (BUT HE REFUSES TO SUPPORT AN AUDIT OF THE DOE)

If Abercrombie were serious about the Nov. 2 general election, he wouldn't have taken a week off after the Sept. 18 primary, the lieutenant governor said.

"It's a sign of arrogance. It's a sign, I think, of disrespect for the public, disrespect for the voters," Aiona added.

SA: Abercrombie defends isle plans

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Dems “Hatchet Job” calls tax hike, food stamp cut “aid to schools”

 

"We should exercise fiscal responsibility, and that particular bill -- where we were cutting food stamp benefits, increasing the size of the deficit and increasing taxes -- as a matter of public policy, that's a bad idea," he said last month in discussing the vote with the Star-Advertiser.

"Hawaii's going to get a small portion of the bill, and of course I'm always happy when Hawaii gets additional resources from the federal government, but I think it is fundamentally unfair that we're asking Hawaii taxpayers to bail out other states that have been incredibly reckless in their budgeting process and have been unable to balance their budgets," Djou said….

The National Republican Congressional Committee, the DCCC's counterpart, also has sent a letter to Honolulu television stations asking that the ad be pulled because it contains "false information deliberately intended to misrepresent Congressman Djou's vote on school funding."

"The fact is, no Hawaii school closed or was ever threatened with closure and no Hawaii teacher was in danger of losing his or her job," states the letter, dated Monday and signed by Jackie Barber, the NRCC's deputy counsel.

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Republican Party Calls Critical Ad False

“Mr. Djou our kids should come before corporate tax breaks and you should know that,” a man and young girl said in the ad.

“It’s clearly false. It's based on completely false premises,” said Hawaii Republican Party Executive Director Dylan Nonaka.

Political analyst Neil Milner said although the ad may distort the truth, it is part of politics, and voters should look past the party’s pettiness. (Because Milner is a self-described leftist and its OK with him when the Democrats lie.)

Congress approved the bill to give $39 million to the state's education system. The state’s Department of Education has not yet decided what it will do with how to distribute the money to cronies.

RELATED: GOP: Some of the actors in National Dems 'independent' campaign advert are actually union bosses

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Hanabusa (D-KoOlina) residency conflicts with district, history

Republican U.S. Rep. Charles Djou has used the residency issue against Hanabusa to good effect in both the special election, in which he won the right to finish Neil Abercrombie's term, and the current race to hold the seat for a full term.

Hanabusa, a state senator representing Waianae, was born and raised on the Waianae Coast and now lives in Ko Olina in the 2nd District.

Djou has pointedly noted at every opportunity that she ran unsuccessfully twice before for her native 2nd Congressional District seat, each time campaigning on the importance of living in the district one represents.

RELATED: Cayetano: Hanabusa's Broken Trust connections lead to Ko Olina

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Cashing in on health care reform: Prepaid Health Care Act in danger

The report found that roughly 35,300 uninsured and 77,000 insured Hawaii residents would be able to use the credits to help pay a portion of their premiums in health insurance exchanges that will be established by 2014….

Hawaii's Prepaid Health Care Act requires that employers provide health insurance to employees who work 20 hours or more a week, though residents with employer-based coverage also could qualify for the tax credits depending on income and out-of-pocket premium contributions. If the out-of-pocket cost is more than 8 percent of their household income, the family or individual could get a tax credit. Low-income families eligible for Medicaid do not qualify for the tax credits.

The credits will be applied directly to a health plan. Individuals and families can choose any plan available through the exchanges and pay the difference if they choose more expensive coverage with greater benefits than a typical midrange plan.

RELATED: Health Insurance? No need: Abercrombie promises to dump Prepaid Health Care Act

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Kaho‘ohalahala endorses Arakawa

Kaho'ohalahala is the second of Arakawa's 10 opponents in the Sept. 18 primary election to back the man who was mayor from 2003 to 2006, when he was denied a second term by Charmaine Tavares.

Recently, Arakawa received the endorsement of third-place finisher Randy Piltz, who has strong construction union support as a successful electrical contractor and consultant himself.

Kaho'ohalahala came in fifth in the mayoral primary with 2,912 votes, or 10.1 percent.

RELATED: Randy Piltz Endorses Alan Arakawa for Mayor

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Police Question Enforceability of Sidewalk Plan

The language in a bill aimed at keeping the homeless from living on Honolulu's sidewalks is too vague, a Honolulu police major told a City Council committee Tuesday.

While John McEntire told the Committee on Public Infrastructure that the police department supports the intent of Bill 39, which would keep sidewalks clear for pedestrians, it is concerned about whether it will be able to enforce the proposed law.

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Tom Gill’s brother founded Sierra Club in Hawaii

Gill was also like a second father to brother Tom Gill's six children.  Gary Gill, son of former Lt. Gov. Tom Gill, said, "When my dad was in the heat of politics, my uncle often would take us on trips to the neighbor islands," trekking the Na Pali Coast, Mauna Loa and Haleakala. Their appreciation for native plants and animals and the natural and cultural history of the islands was shaped by their uncle, he said.

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Education Poll Ranks UH 115th In Global Survey

HONOLULU -- The University of Hawaii at Manoa earned a ranking in the Times Higher Education 2010-2011 for the first time, school officials said.  UH earned a ranking of 115 out of 200 schools worldwide. 

(Imagine what it could be if not held back by scads of pulsating Gramscians infesting the liberal arts faculties.)

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Anti-Israel Walk Saturday at Hilo’s Kalakaua Park

Modeled on Cancer Walks and AIDS Walks, the Free Palestine Walks have two one key goals: To make support for head-chopping Islamist baby killers seem really normal.

RELATED: Honolulu Maoists & Holocaust Deniers protest against Israel: Star-Bulletin calls them ‘peace activists’

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Home sweet home for Hawaii's soldiers returning from Iraq

The soldiers were in charge of supporting all the flight missions in northern Iraq. They did reconnaissance, provided air assaults, flew Iraqi troops around, and lived side-by-side with Iraqi soldiers. Four pilots, either with the 25th ID or attached to the unit, were killed during this last tour of duty.

During the past year, the mission of the brigade began to evolve. As part of President Obama's plan to end combat operations, Because Obama failed to defeat The Surge, the soldiers started advising and assisting Iraqis, instead of directing them.

Major General Bernard Champoux, commander of the 25th ID, says, "By the end of their mission, their 12 months in northern Iraq, they actually transitioned into stability operations - where Iraqis really took the lead."

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