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Monday, March 18, 2013
March 18, 2013 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 5:15 PM :: 5122 Views

Monday, March 18: Hawaii Statehood

PPPA: PLDC Bait and Switch? Next Hearing March 19

Homeless tent cities: Seattle’s decade-long nightmare coming to Honolulu?

Jones Act: Five House Reps Introduce Resolution Urging Reform

Doomed: Schatz “Not Looking Beyond 2014”

SA: …did not have the luxury of a transition like colleagues who were elected in November.

Schatz also did not receive the public vetting that comes with an election campaign to such a high profile office, so many voters might not know his political philosophy or where he stands on important public policy matters.

While Schatz will have the advantage of incumbency, he will not have much time to establish a record before he has to campaign for election next year. U.S. Rep. Colleen Hana­busa, D-Hawaii, has said she is considering primary challenges against Schatz or Abercrombie and could make an announcement by summer….

Schatz was interviewed earlier this month in Ino­uye's old seventh-floor offices in the federal building in Hono­lulu, which were still eerily empty….

Political analysts say they doubt Schatz will have enough time before the 2014 election season to really establish himself on the issues. The congressional delegation does not get the same kind of daily examination from the local news media that the governor or Hono­lulu mayor receives, so Schatz might have only a few opportunities to distinguish himself on public policy before he is viewed in the context of an election campaign.

"I think he's going to have trouble establishing himself on issues in any way, frankly," said Dan Boylan, a history professor emeritus at the University of Hawaii at West Oahu and a columnist for MidWeek. "There's just not enough time."

Boylan said Schatz's immediate challenge is to raise money and set up a campaign organization to prepare for a potential primary against a serious threat like Hana­busa….

"I'd like to serve as long as I'm able because I think that that would be in Hawaii's best interest," Schatz said. "But I know that this has to be done one step at a time, and so I'm not looking beyond 2014, because we've got a lot of work to do in the short run."

read … Star-Adv Telling Hanabusa to Run Against Schatz, not Abercrombie

Schatz too Weak to Unify Delegation on Akaka Bill, Working on End-Run Around Congress 

SA: Schatz said the state's congressional delegation has been in conversations with the White House about ensuring Native Hawaiian representation in the executive branch.

The senator said the delegation is still assessing how best to advance Native Hawaiian federal recognition, which has been stalled in the Senate for more than a decade.

Schatz, who serves on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction of Native Hawaiian issues, said lawmakers and Native Hawaiian leaders do not want to "put something in the hopper just for the sake of saying we did it."

He added, "The point here is to advance the cause, and that means that we have to take our time and gather our resources and try to speak with one voice."

read … Weakling, Loser

Hanabusa Interviewed by Indian Country Today

ICT: We are going to have to hope that they have laid a sufficient groundwork to build on. A political relationship between Native Hawaiians and the United States is necessary in order for various entitlements and trusts, such as in education, at home to survive. I hope that the other Native peoples in the United States will assist us in moving it forward. I think we should ask for the recognition, and ask for the right of self-determination. We’ve had insertions in the legislation to prohibit gaming because that was necessary to get some support. We are different than Native Americans because we do not have the same historical treaty relationships with the federal government. So we do not have the same gaming rights, like those we discussed earlier. But we are a Native people, and we are entitled to the recognition.

Read … Hanabusa on Akaka Bill

Who Runs the University?  Star-Adv Pushes Back against WAC

SA: University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood told Manoa faculty union leaders in October that her "much more fundamental concern" was the university's freedom "to make our own personnel decisions independent of political pressure." Although a commission that accredits UH agrees, the university's problem is that it has failed repeatedly in recent months to show that it deserves the relative autonomy it seeks.

In a scathing letter to Greenwood, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges expressed concern that "individuals within the government" — i.e. state legislators — seek to "undermine the authority" of the UH administration and its Board of Regents. The letter by Ralph A. Wolff, the association's president, asserted that current bills, if passed, "could interfere with the university's ability to manage its own affairs."…

The association's scolding must not cause the UH administration or regents to place the public in further darkness. Too often, regents have met behind closed doors, reluctantly apologizing that UH administrators had "mishandled" the Wonder blunder. An external investigation by a law firm was full of redacted names. For the sake of the university's credibility, the upper-level dysfunction must cease if autonomy is to be deserved. These are administrators and regents of a public institution, not private fiefdoms, who need to steer more openly and call for accountability to instill confidence within the community.

Responding to: WAC: Legislature Endangers UH Accreditation

read … Repair

Tax Cut More Effective than Minimum Wage Hike

CB: House Bill 385 and its Senate companion, SB 301, would establish an earned income tax credit and require the Department of Human Services to offer poor Hawaii residents a basic financial education….

Hawaii wants to give its residents an extra boost by tacking on a certain percent to the federal credit, which is how other states do the EITC. This number is left blank for now, but long-time supporters of a state EITC have some suggestions.

The Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice wants lawmakers to set it at 20 percent. But the nonprofit’s executive director, Victor Geminiani, says he’d be fine with a foothold of 5 percent that the state could increase over time.

Geminiani said at 10 percent, the center estimates it would cost the state $19 million in lost tax revenue. He said the tax department puts it closer to $25 million.

This would be on top of the $3.2 million DHS estimates it would cost to provide financial literary services as proposed in the bill.

But Geminiani said studies show people spend money received from EITC programs on bills and basic needs that circulates through the economy.

“For every dollar spent on state-level EITC, an additional $1.67 is generated in new earnings for the state,” he said.

Geminiani said studies show the EITC helps the working poor far more efficiently than increasing the minimum wage.

The Legislature is moving forward with two bills that would increase the minimum wage more than a dollar over the next few years. HB 1028 would up it from $7.25 an hour to $9 by 2017. And SB 331 would increase it to $9.25 an hour by 2016.

While Mizuno would be willing to compromise the minimum wage bill to get the EITC legislation passed, Geminiani said ideally both would be implemented simultaneously….

A University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization report released in February says raising the minimum wage will prove successful in improving living standards in Hawaii only if a large proportion of minimum wage earners are members of poor households.

The report says increasing the minimum wage is largely a symbolic gesture by policymakers, noting the EITC’s superior effectiveness in supporting working families despite its higher administrative costs.

The Senate Human Services Committee passed HB 385 unamended last week; it heads to Ways and Means next. The House Human Services Committee deferred SB 301 until Tuesday.

Geminiani said he is also pushing for Seante Bill 98’s passage. The so-called poverty bill would effectively eliminate income taxes for Hawaii’s poorest families….

Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland said the state needs to develop thousands of new homes over the next few years. She said Senate Bill 515, which she introduced, would address the housing issue on a number of levels.

read … Hawaii's Working Poor Could Get Boost From Legislature This Year

Legislature might exempt meat processors and sales of isle produce from the state's GE Tax

SA: Key industry leaders put together the Local Food Coalition several months ago to spearhead and back efforts to get farm-related legislation passed by state lawmakers this year.

More than a dozen bills originating from the coalition, along with a few independent of the group, have passed the halfway point in the legislative session, crossing from the House to the Senate or vice versa….

FARM BILLS ALIVE AT THE LEGISLATURE

  • >> HB 503: General excise tax exemption for local produce sales
  • >> HB 747*: General excise tax exemption for processing poultry and livestock
  • >> HB 96: Income tax exemption for family farms
  • >> SB 595*: General excise tax exemption for loading and shipping meat, fish, eggs and milk between islands
  • >> SB 974*: Would qualify farm infrastructure for state special-purpose revenue bond financing
  • >> HB 1263*: Would provide $5.6 million to improve irrigation ditches on Oahu, Hawaii island and Kauai
  • >> SB 991*: Would exempt state entities from procurement rules when buying fresh produce, meat, animals and plants
  • >> SB 586*/HB 489*: Would exempt nonresidential farm structures outside urban areas from county building codes
  • >> HB 486*: Would provide $150,000 for 4-H and Future Farmers of America programs
  • >> SB 593*: Would expand livestock feed subsidies
  • >> HB 488*: Would reduce rental rates on state land by redefining appraisal practices
  • >> SB 5*: To provide more compensation to farmers when state land is removed from farm leases

read … GE Tax Cut

 

Bills cleared to stem private money in elections

SA: Proposals aimed at decreasing the influence of private money on state elections are making headway in the state Legislature.

The House Judiciary Committee advanced two bills last week reforming campaign finance reporting requirements. The state Campaign Spending Commission supports the bills and says they will increase transparency.

Committee members also voted Tuesday for a bill to adjust a Hawaii island pilot project for publicly funded campaigns to equalize the amount of money candidates receive. Sen. Russell Ruderman (D, Puna) said the bill will increase the program's appeal.

But some say reforming the Hawaii island program isn't enough.

Kory Payne of Voter-Owned Hawaii is one of several advocates for a comprehensive public funding program for state legislative races.

The proposal passed the House overwhelmingly, despite concerns from county clerks' offices that the program could strain their resources….

He estimated the program could cost taxpayers about $2.5 million a year.

Hawaii already has a partial public funding program, but critics say it is ineffective.

According to the Campaign Spending Commission website, just two legislative candidates participated in the program during the 2012 general election. Only one, Rep. Rida Caba­nilla (D, Ewa Beach-West Loch Estates), was successful.

read … Bills cleared to stem private money in elections

Hawaii Police Union Bargains In Secret, Leaves Public Wondering

CB: The union contract that helps keep police officer misdeeds under wraps is now in the hands of an independent arbitrator who is expected to release a decision soon.

Negotiations for a new State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers(SHOPO) collective bargaining agreement stalled about two years ago after neither side could come to an agreement. The last four-year agreement expired in June 2011.

But due to bargaining rules and confidentiality requirements no one will say what the sticking points are or what’s on the table.

Compared to the loose-lipped negotiations over a new Hawaii State Teachers Association contract — in which everyone seems to be blabbing to the media — SHOPO, the state and the four counties have kept their mouths shut.

It’s impossible at this point to know how much an arbitrator’s decision in the SHOPO negotiations will cost the four counties. If the arbitrator sides with the union it could mean higher salaries for cops.

In Honolulu, where the SHOPO membership is largest, Mayor Kirk Caldwell has not budgeted for any increases in compensation for police officers. He has, however, accounted for an automatic 5 percent salary bump many other city employees will receive as mandatory, statewide pay cuts implemented in 2009 sunset.Read the current SHOPO contract:

LINK: Read the expired SHOPO contract

read … SHOPO

Escapee Misses Two More Court Dates

SA: On Thursday, Munet missed his Circuit Court arraignment on the escape charge. His bail for that charge is $250,000.

Munet’s arraignment was rescheduled for 8:30 a.m. today. Again, he was a no-show.

A deputy public defender at OCCC told Circuit Judge Richard Perkins that he didn’t know if Munet was at the Kalihi facility or being transported to the court house.

Perkins rescheduled Munet’s hearing for Thursday.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Public Safety wasn’t able to say why Munet missed his last two court appearances and said someone is looking into the matter.

read … DPS Confusion?

SB170: HTA to Support ‘Cultural Practitioners’

CB: Expands the powers and duties of the Hawaii Tourism Authority to include perpetuating the uniqueness of the native Hawaiian culture and community and the importance of the native Hawaiian culture and community to the quality of the visitor experience by ensuring that native Hawaiian culture is accurately portrayed by the visitor industry; the Hawaiian language is supported and normalized by the visitor industry; cultural practitioners and cultural sites that give value to Hawaii’s heritage are supported; and a native Hawaiian cultural education and training program is provided for the visitor industry workforce having direct contact with visitors.

SB 170, introduced by Majority Leader Brickwood Galuteria, has passed the Senate and has a joint House hearing Monday (March 18 — today).

read … Money

HSTA Member Fails to Get Workers Comp for ‘VOG’

RI: The court explained that vog exposure would not be a condition characteristic of or peculiar to his employment because the vog affected the entire island. He argued that his work environment and duties made his employment unique and created a higher hazard of vog exposure. However, the court found that the hazard he faced while at the school was no greater risk than that faced by others off campus.

The court pointed out that none of the doctor's reports noted any relationship between the exacerbation and his employment. One doctor recommended that he transfer to another area. The court said that this indicated that his condition was not peculiar to his employment at the school but was due to his presence on the island.

read … Nice Try

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