Entries for November 2013

...impacts to gross state product are negative (up to -$63 million)....

...the undersigned farmers, ranchers and floral & nursery growers collectively produce more than 80% of the food and agricultural products grown in Hawaii....

...concerns raised about inadequate religious exemptions and unanswered questions now left up to the courts to decide will undoubtedly require continual fixes to the law in the future....

One of the idiosyncrasies of the real property tax is an action taken by a county or City council called compromises....

Between 25,000 and 30,000 Hawaii residents with individual plans and 140,000 people covered by small business policies had been notified their medical plans will be canceled or altered on Jan. 1....

Another hearing on the 801 South Street project will be held on Tuesday November 19 at 5:30 pm and a final hearing and decision making follows on Tuesday December 4....

'Tis  the season to give thanks to the Lord for those 23 good legislators who voted "no" on SB1 and "yes" for marriage....

25,000-30,000 Hawaii residents’ medical plans are set to be canceled January 1st....

The state Department of Taxation paid CGI Group more than $87 million over 12 years....

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii: Humpy’s Big Island Alehouse & The Frisky Seal announced plans to host a 2-night, 2-show comedy festival featuring 5 stand-up comics from around the islands....

Los Angeles continues to be the most congested urban area in the United States, with an excess travel time of 35 percent. San Francisco (32 percent), Seattle, and much smaller Honolulu (tied at 28 percent)....

thoughts on the decision and what we need to do moving forward....

Although it dismissed the lawsuit -- the Party raised only a facial claim -- the court left open the possibility of an as-applied challenge....

"...members who don't choose a new ACA plan by Dec. 15 will be re-enrolled in their current plan in December for another year to ensure they don't lose...." -- Yadao

Once upon a time, Obamacare was “settled” law that was “here to stay”....

The National Weather Service is facing allegations of "waste, fraud and abuse" over the eviction of Pacific Tsunami Warning Center employees from their government housing....

Now, on a single day, I have been given the gift of multiple news reports each detailing new ways the government is hurting the environment while purporting to save it....

Can Puerto Rico Change the Jones Act? - Mike Hansen intervewed ....

Next Tuesday and Thursday, join us at the HRP headquarters from 10am to 4pm for an open house drop-in....

The court upholds Hawaii’s open primary election against this facial constitutional challenge....

• Peter S. Adler
• Jeffrey S. Portnoy
• Stanford B. C. Yuen

About 10 percent of KIUC’s 30,000 customers have opted out of the smart meter program....

Some of the photos will be on display at the “Making TOD Happen” symposium set for 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Neal Blaisdell Center....

President Obama said Thursday he will let Americans renew for one year any health plans that do not meet Obamacare's coverage standards....

...Education works: Who needs a Beverage Tax?....

Electronic comments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on February 3, 2014....

Aitken never went public with what he knew about Shimano, not in 1964, and not for the next half century until his death....

A few short years ago, many analysts argued that oil was nearly tapped out and America needed to plan for a post-petroleum future.  What's changed? In a word: fracking....

“The Tonight Show” is a cultural bellwether, so when its studio audience roars its approval at Senator Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) quip that Obamacare is “the biggest job killer in this country,” you know something’s happening across our land....

In 2011, the first bill he signed into law as Governor legalized civil unions....

One day before Kauai County Council set to consider override of Mayor's Veto .... 

To date, 94 small business employers have completed....

• DATE: Thursday, November 14, 2013
• TIME: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
• PLACE: Conference Room 229 State Capitol 

• DATE: Thursday, November 21, 2013
• TIME: 9:30am to 11:30am
• PLACE: Conference Room 329 State Capitol

...our race is virtually tied, 38-36, with a little more than eight months to go before the start of early voting....

• DATE: Monday, November 25, 2013
• TIME: 1:30 pm
• PLACE: Conference Room 329, State Capitol

...

...he was subpoenaed to testify in New York in a terrorism case against a friend he met in a Hono­lulu mosque....

One of the ways that the health reform is being funded is through cuts in disproportionate share funding for hospitals....

In the next 31 days—starting today—the budget conference committee will try to accomplish something Congress has failed to do for the past four years....

The interview contains a valuable introduction to what the Affordable Care Act is and clearly explains the “Hawaii Healthcare Connector,” which Lim initiated as its start-up executive director....

...anonymous 'Informal Advisory Opinions' which clearly refer to questions raised over the practice of giving UH Regents free athletic tickets....

The total number of homeless clients served by the Shelter and Outreach Programs has dropped for the third consecutive year....

Abercrombie has scheduled a signing ceremony Wednesday November 13 at 10AM at the Hawaii Convention Center....

...parents, not formal education, that make the difference for young children's readiness for school and success once they get there....