Entries for September 2012

... the tax credits have other, indirect effects: Increased sales of electric vehicles allow automakers to sell more low-fuel-economy vehicles ....

Occupy Wall Street's pathetic first birthday last week confirmed that the longstanding reports of the movement's death have not, in fact, been exaggerated....

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." -- George Santayana

We are on the same treacherous fiscal path as Greece, Italy and Spain....

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Apparently there are some, including some of the commissioners on the Tax Review Commission, who believe that those unfunded liabilities that combined is estimated to be more than $20 billion must be addressed with increases in taxes....

...the goal was not only to improve efficiency and patient safety, but also to reduce health care costs.  But, in reality, the move to electronic health records may be contributing to billions of dollars in higher costs....

The Washington Post said the film "plays squarely to folks who feel that Christians today are persecuted."

The PFM Group’s recommendations on ways to raise taxes are insulting....

...one of the proposed amendments would specifically allow a major film production studio in an industrial zoned area near Campbell Industrial Park, as proposed under resolution 08-93.  The Planning Commission recommends denial....

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...producer Dinesh D'Souza asks viewers whether we will pursue the American dream or Barack Obama's dream....

Agriculture provides employment for a very small number of people and the people who work in agriculture earn less than workers in any other sector....

For Hirono to build her entire campaign on the coattails of Senator Inouye and President Obama underscores her lack of depth as a candidate for a promotion to higher office....

If Obama;'s 2013 budget is implemented, Hawaii will be obligated to pay $1,096,300,000 more for Medicaid....

federal enforcement authority will be exercised in Hawaii effective September 21, 2012....

Upon completion of all program requirements, participants’ savings are matched with $6400....

Sunday will mark the start of the 100-day countdown to “Taxmageddon” – the date the largest tax hikes in the history of America will take effect....

The report singles out top Department of Justice officials for wrongdoing and contradicts sworn testimony by Attorney General Eric Holder.

 The law does nothing more than deceive people into purchasing non-GE foods, which aren't different from GE foods....

We need to elect leaders who are more concerned about America than their political party and will put aside partisan differences to work together to solve our nation's problems. 

About 47 percent of the designated habitat is located on land belonging to the state, 11 percent is on federal lands, 9 percent is on city and county lands, while 33 percent on of the land privately owned.

A prosecutor cannot use a criminal prosecution against a political rival in an attempt to intimidate him.... Incredibly, they made tape recordings discussing their plans and they joked on those tapes about committing perjury if ever caught.

...islanders, many of whom have persistent and serious health conditions, filed a class action against the state, alleging that the cut in benefits violated the equal-protection clause of the U.S. Constitution....

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As a 4th generation farmer of Peterson’s Farm, Lauren will effectively serve as a voice for the agricultural community ....

Through her leadership and assistance State House Republicans were able to create, develop, and present a state budget proposal that would have balanced our state budget without raising taxes and/or fees!

...the House of Representatives is set to vote today to approve or disapprove Health and Human Services’ (HHS) rewriting of the 1996 law....

According to Rodney Lau, DHHL administrative services officer, it’s been a common practice to transfer these interest revenues to the operating account every three months....

Areas under discussion include the length of time an EIS is valid, the exemption process, and cultural impacts....

Thursday, September 20 - TOMORROW - from 5-7 p.m. - Waianae District Park (Ewa Beach to Keaau)

As it stands, Native Hawaiian communal lands, property, is going to be open for residency/occupancy to non-native Hawaiians and this must be addressed....

The resolution urges changing Kalaeloa street names in former MCAS Ewa BACK to their ORIGINAL names reflecting those pilots killed in action and awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroism during WW-II....

It's only through your generosity and support that we have the funds to be able to discuss the important issues facing our country today, and the need to elect genuine leaders, like Charles, who have the courage and the character to address those issues.

Governor Linda Lingle signed, SB 665 SDI HD2 CD1 which prohibits "a person representing a health maintenance organization under chapter 4320, a mutual benefit society issuing individual and group hospital or medical service plans under chapter 432, or any other health care organization" from membership on the Council....

In 2009, 47 percent of all tax filers paid no federal individual income taxes, and in 2011 that figure was 46 percent....

"Widely regarded as the gold standard for accreditation, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges will now accredit all public schools in Hawaii." Hawaii private schools are also accredited by WASC. The same criteria will be used for both.

 Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and his Chinese counterpart, Defense Minister Gen. Liang Guanglie, told reporters here today they see progress and room for growth in the two nations’ military relationship....

OHA chairman Clayton Hee and Van Dyke's wife, Sherry Broder, met in August (1996) with the Washington lobbying firm of Patton Boggs, L.L.P., to seek assistance in passing federal legislation to recognize OHA as the Native Hawaiian government as well as to "quietly" explore casino gambling....

Gen. Xu Caihou, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, considered the most senior military political commissar, said Friday that military forces should be “prepared for any possible military combat,” state run Xinhua news agency reported....

...she slipped and fell on uncleaned floor of the defendant’s fast food restaurant...$5,670,000....

Mazie Hirono says our Democrat supporters aren’t Democrat enough. Her partisan politics are shining through, and giving Hawaii a glimpse of the us-vs-them mentality she leads with....

Responsibility for some functions is not clearly specified in HRS 11. It is not clear that either jurisdiction has sufficient authority to resolve all the problems that surfaced in the Big Island primary election....

Abercrombie is pursuing an appeal of the injunction on Basic Health Hawai'i, with a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals hearing scheduled for Tuesday in San Francisco....  

Adult Obesity Rate in Hawaii Could Reach 51.8 Percent by 2030, According to New Study -- Related Health Care Costs Could Climb by 12.3 Percent....

"I attended meetings between Governor Lingle, the Board of Education and the Superintendent, and the Governor made it clear that her support for furloughs was conditioned on them not occurring on instructional days so that students wouldn't miss any school days," Smith added.

...this updated CBO estimate represents the first time that the Medicare payment reductions are accounted for in the full 10‐year budget window....

Savings promised by the government and vendors of information technology are little more than hype....

The belief that more imports equals less employment at home is false. It follows directly that the idea that trade deficits lead to higher unemployment is also false.

Democratic FEC commissioners argued that UPW did in fact coerce “employees to participate in the union’s political activities” in violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971....