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Hawaii’s Robot Lawmakers: Vote ‘Aye’ 98% of the Time
CB: … Out of 94,561 total individual votes cast for bills, 92,717 were yes votes while just 1,934 were noes. That works out to voting in the affirmative 98% of the time ….
Legislation from minority Republicans or Democrats not part of the power elite is rarely considered. And mechanisms that allow a handful of legislators in the majority party to control the gatekeeping on all bills — such as the power of a committee chair to unilaterally kill a bill or not hear it all — remain obstacles to achieving greater inclusion and consideration of policy.
“The reason (for the overwhelming number of yes votes) is that bills — at least in Hawaiʻi, and I think this is true of most states where there’s a single party that dominates — if there’s disagreement, they’re killed ahead of time,” said Colin Moore, a political scientist at the University of Hawaiʻi Manoa. “They don’t make it out of committee. They don’t get heard. Most of the debate, most of the disagreement, happens behind closed doors. And so once a bill actually comes up for a vote, it usually has a huge majority behind it.”…
One example of a hotly contested bill that ultimately failed after a close vote was the proposed prohibition on assault rifles, assault shotguns and .50 caliber firearms. The public floor debate on Senate Bill 401 drew passionate speeches from lawmakers before Senate President Ron Kouchi killed it with a tie-breaking no vote….
In March, SB 401 had been easily approved by the Senate, 20-5. But on April 30, just two days before session concluded, Sen. Lynn DeCoite moved to amend the bill on the floor.
Among other points, a review of the hearing on Digital Democracy shows, she argued that the bill did not adequately preserve the rights of subsistence hunters and conservation workers, “especially Native Hawaiians.” …
RELATED: Enviros win 90% in Hawaii Supreme Court
CB: Who Are Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Listening To? See How They Vote
read … Are Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Just Rubber-Stamping Bills Every Session? - Honolulu Civil Beat
Council sinks deeper into Honolulu rail money pit
Shapiro: … The Oahu rail project has been above all else an egregious exercise in throwing good money after bad.
We’ve endured costly mistakes virtually every step of the way, some bad enough to suggest this runaway train should have been stopped.
But political leaders and lobbyists always howled, “We’ve spent so much already, we can’t stop now.” …
Why do I recap this sorry history now? Because the City Council has come up with yet another way to potentially throw more good money after bad on this broken project.
Bill 60, passed on first reading by the Council at its last meeting, authorized the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation to begin preliminary planning and engineering for extending the rail line to the University of Hawaii.
It looks like the start of a play to keep HART and the .5% rail excise tax alive beyond their statutory sunset dates in 2031.
The bill received strong support from Pacific Resource Partnership, the politically powerful lobbying arm of the Carpenters Union and unionized contractors that’s spent millions electing rail-supporting candidates….
read … Volcanic Ash: Council sinks deeper into Honolulu rail money pit | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Panic: Trump Cuts to Federal Slush Fund Might Force Some People to get Real Jobs
CB: … For Hawaiʻi, the erosion of democratic norms is not abstract. The state receives far more in federal money than it contributes in taxes, a reminder of its vulnerability if funds are delayed or politicized. That reliance touches nearly every sector of daily life. Hospitals and clinics rely on Medicaid reimbursements and federal health grants. The University of Hawaiʻi and public schools depend on education programs that have already seen cuts. Military spending sustains local contractors and businesses. And disaster recovery hinges on the speed of federal payments….
If Hawaiʻi cannot assume the White House will act with restraint, it should prepare for delay and administrative pressure. The likeliest tools are not changes to the law itself but tactics such as compliance reviews, prolonged approvals and slowed reimbursements. These tactics are legal on paper, yet they can choke off resources just as effectively as outright cuts.
Preparation starts with a contingency reserve to cover shortfalls for a limited period. Even bridge funding for health care, education and nutritional assistance could prevent cascading crises in hospitals, schools and social services.
The Legislature could also adopt rapid reallocation procedures so funds can be shifted quickly when reimbursements lag. Legal complications would certainly arise when substituting state for federal funds, but those issues can be anticipated and managed.
Planning must also include Hawaiʻi’s nonprofit sector. Many essential services, from food distribution to primary care to homeless support, rely on federal dollars. These organizations often lack reserves. Mapping which providers are most exposed would allow the state and philanthropic partners to target support when federal funds are delayed or conditioned. Keeping these programs afloat can mean the difference between stability and crisis for thousands of local families.
Federalism still provides defenses. Hawaiʻi can litigate, coordinate with other states and use administrative channels to raise the cost of arbitrary federal actions. Yet decades of interdependence have made states reliant on Washington’s rules and money. When norms are respected, this works. When they are not, financial dependence magnifies federal leverage….
CB: Lee Cataluna: Are We All Afraid Of Disappearing If We Speak The Truth? - Honolulu Civil Beat
read … What Democracy's Backsliding In Washington Means For Hawaiʻi - Honolulu Civil Beat
Water pricing discord under surface of prestigious Maui golf tourney cancellation
SA: … Documents filed with state utility and water resource regulators explain the discord touched off a year ago by a 400% rate hike.
MLP let Yanai’s TY Management Corp. know in August 2024 that factors including drought conditions and irreparable water system damage caused by heavy rains associated with Hurricane Lane in 2018 were anticipated to result in reduced water availability.
On Sept. 12, 2024, MLP informed TY Management in a letter that the cost per 1,000 gallons of water would be jumping to $2.45 from 49 cents starting Nov. 1, 2024, due to higher projected operating costs for the delivery system over the coming year.
In addition, MLP was imposing a new “transmission fee” adding 5% to TY Management’s water bill.
Alex Nakajima, general manager of TY Management affiliate Kapalua Golf and Tennis, replied in a Sept. 24 letter with questions about the higher projected operating costs, and whether they were expenses that could be passed on to TY Management under water delivery agreements with MLP.
The water delivery agreements were arranged as part of MLP selling the Plantation Course, which hosts The Sentry, and the Bay Course at Kapalua Resort to TY Management in 2009 and 2010 for $50 million and $24 million, respectively. Initial water rates were set at 32 cents per 1,000 gallons with a provision to rise with inflation.
At the time, MLP was trying to pay off a crushing amount of debt to remain solvent in the wake of downturns in the real estate and tourism industries. MLP also closed its pineapple plantation in 2009 amid financial challenges, and since then has largely sustained itself by selling assets and leasing farmland and commercial real estate to tenants….
SA: Editorial: Care needed for Maui water deal | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
read … Water pricing discord under surface of prestigious Maui golf tourney cancellation | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Six Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Say 'Shalom!' To Israel
CB: … House Republican Reps. Diamond Garcia, David Alcos, Julie Reyes Oda and Garner Shimizu, Democrat Rep. Mark Hashem and GOP Sen. Samantha DeCorte were part of a 50 States, One Israel delegation that visited the Holy Land last week.
The Times of Israel reported that the 250 American state legislators were making a first-of-its-kind visit — from Sept. 14-18 — as Israel’s foreign ministry “intensifies efforts to bring in foreign delegations amid mounting international criticism of the war in Gaza.” …
read … The Sunshine Blog: Six Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Say 'Shalom!' To Israel - Honolulu Civil Beat
Expungement: Law experts hosted free clinic to help Hawaii criminals hide their criminality
HNN: … The Kapalama Expungement and Bench Warrant Recall Clinic was held at the Public Defender’s Office on North Nimitz Highway.
Volunteer attorneys were on-hand to help clear minor criminal arrest records and recall active district court bench warrants.
“For those who are looking for employment or looking for housing, often times employers as well as potential landlords are always in ECourt Kokua looking at those things,” said Edward Aquino, Deputy Public Defender….
2024: Miske Hitman Criminal Record Secretly Expunged
read … Law experts hosted free clinic to help Hawaii residents clear their names
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