Hawaii State Government

... Numerous bills aimed at increasing our taxes have been shelved, and some good measures actually have a chance of passing ....

... New procedures have been put in place to access the Capitol building ....

... The purpose of the Commission is to dissipate reform energy in order to preserve the status quo. ... 

... Hawaii’s contributions have fallen below minimum actuarial standards since 2011, which has caused the state’s funding level to decline from 94% in 2000 to 55% as of 2019 ....

... SB3089 SD2 HD1 would amend the state’s emergency-management statute to clarify that the powers granted for emergency purposes should not be inconsistent with the Hawaii Constitution, require justification for the suspension of laws and place limits on such suspensions, and allow the Legislature or county councils to terminate an emergency, in part or in whole, by a two-thirds vote. ...

... the dust hasn't settled yet ....

... Low taxes, school choice help inform ALEC's ranking of best, worst governors ....

... the ALOHA homes program as currently envisioned in this bill would result in an expensive, nonsustainable government project that would fail to effectively assist those it is intended to help ....

... several hundred attendees were treated to good food, inspirational speakers, terrific entertainment and great camaraderie ....

... Costales fills the vacancy left by former Rep. Ty Cullen, who resigned on Feb. 8, 2022 ....

... We reviewed 104 Senate and House bills introduced during the 2022 legislative session proposing 63 special and revolving funds.  None satisfied the criteria set forth in section 23-11, HRS ....

... one month after the arrest of English and Cullen, all state facilities managed by DAGS will reopen to the general public ....

... The practice of gut-and-replace allowed state lawmakers to pass laws without a full set of public hearings ....

... The in-person services are available Monday through Friday (except holidays), 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ....

... Ige will choose one of the three who, remarkably, don't include former HSTA president Rosenlee ....

... Hawaii has been largely left out of the cryptocurrency revolution .... 

... The Hawaii Senate Judiciary Committee has recommended approval of a bill that would ban fundraising activities for lawmakers during legislative sessions. ...

... the Capitol is filled with eager beavers ....

... Dems will forward Rosenlee and two others to Gov Ige so he can pick Rosenlee ....

"The CLFCU unit was to spearhead the criminal prosecution of White Collar and government corruption crimes. So far, completed cases that were sent to the unit have not been forwarded for indictments and are held in abeyance for no reason." -- Chief Investigator Daniel Hanagami

... The House is re-opening the State Capitol to the public beginning March 7, 2022. House members, House staff, and the public will be required to adhere to the state vaccination policy to enter the State Capitol ....

... Each defendant faces maximum penalties of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 at their sentencings, which are set before Judge Mollway on July 5, 2022 ....

... At times, it’s nearly impossible to know exactly why a bill was killed or who was for or against it. Such things happen behind the scenes ....

... How many ways can our state legislators make life more miserable for us? ....

... SB3089 would amend the state’s emergency-management statute ....

... SB3076 would encumber cryptocurrency, not liberate it ... Digital currency bill SB3025 better than SB3076, but still a rat’s nest ....

... In the federal system the little fish eats the big fish.  We've got a menu .... 

... how widespread this corruption is in our government ....

... Rep Ty Cullen and former cocaine dealer J Kalani 'Powdernose' English arrested today ....

... We are 17 days through the 31st Legislature. The "People's" building is still closed and it doesn't look like Senator Kouchi, Speaker Saiki or Governor Ige are interested in opening it up. ...

... Road map to prosperity ....

... Historically, according the Legislative Reference Bureau, only 10% of bills introduced become law ....  

... HB1585 needs greater clarity about the role of the Legislature and stronger statements about protecting transparency and individual rights ....

... 5:30-8:30 PM, Tuesday, February 8th ....

... Here is the actual wording of the item in the Hawai‘i State Constitution ....

... Governor David Y. Ige to the Thirty-First State Legislature meeting in joint session, January 24, 2022 .... 

... The word now is that leaders are reconsidering ....

... House Speaker Scott Saiki announced plans in an unusually specific, brief speech ....

... we’re also being told that we can’t fully open the State Capitol to public interaction because it isn’t safe ....

... Ige today said the State of Hawaiʻi allocated all the $1.6 billion received last May ....

... Insights From Fiscal 50’s Key Measures of State Fiscal Health ....

... workers at employers of a minimum size would be enrolled automatically in the program with the ability to opt out ....

... With this kind of money projected to come in the door, politicians of all stripes are staying up nights plotting and planning how to spend it ....

... What to do with the state’s $3 billion budget surplus ....

... The 2022 Legislative Briefings will be held via Zoom on the following Tuesdays from 7:30 am- 8:30 am ....

... Will Hawaii be able to benefit from the cryptocurrency boom? ....

...  So what have we done with the federal TANF money?  We’ve let it pile up unused ....

... Griffin will serve until June 30, 2022.  Gov. Ige will nominate Griffin’s replacement in the coming months ....

... Hawaii has $364 million idling in an account, equivalent to $2,923 per person living in poverty ....

... Aimee’s political experience includes working on Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, helping to draft her “Climate Plan for the People,” and on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, where she led the Bay Area Idealists4Hillary group ....