Entries for May 2011

Congresswomen Hirono and Hanabusa are clearly part of the problem in Washington and have offered no solutions other than spending more money. This vote alone is a good reason why Congresswoman Hirono does not deserve or belong in the U.S. Senate.

Stephen H. Fraser, President and Chief Executive Officer-- "We believe our current stock price and market capitalization reflect investor concern over our ability to achieve a long-term refinancing that deleverages the company and preserves equity. We are working to complete a successful refinancing which we hope will alleviate that concern and help us achieve higher market capitalization."

"We are thrilled that eleven of thirteen candidates endorsed by Hawaii Right to Life PAC won their respective races. We also believe that every person who runs for public office of any kind and vows to uphold the right to life is a winner." said Janet Grace, Executive Director of Hawaii Right to Life.

Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: FY2012 House Budget Resolution
• Senate: President’s FY2012 Budget Resolution
• Senate: Patriot Act Extensions
• House: National Defense Authorization Act, FY2012
• House: Patriot Act Extensions

...revised data released last week that shows the economy’s growth stuck at 1.8 percent, slow consumer spending, stagnant wages, higher prices for gas and food, the poor housing market, flagging consumer confidence and a recent Labor Department report showing a higher-than-expected rise in claims for jobless benefits.....

There is upon your desk an emergency appropriation by the legislature (HB838) awaiting your signature to fund the functions of the Reapportionment Commission and its temporary staff positions.

IAM is fortunate and pleased to announce that on June 2 at 6 p.m. at the Kulana `Oiwi Halau, Robin Kaye from Friends of Lanai (FOL) will be sharing the “Lanai Wind Fall Out” video and their experience with the Big Wind and undersea cable project.

Arrogantly, Abercrombie states that “we” –ie the State—have to “deal with” the question: “Are we extending life or are we prolonging death?”

For every child currently waiting to be adopted, there are 500 married households and three religious congregations in America.

Here in Arlington rests a sharecropper's son who became a hero to a lonely people. Joe Louis came from nowhere, but he knew how to fight. And he galvanized a nation in the days after Pearl Harbor when he put on the uniform of his country and said, "I know we'll win because we're on God's side."

Just six months ago, the settled view was that Americans were putting social issues on the back burner.... As a New York Times headline in March 2010 put it: “Tea Party Avoids Divisive Social Issues."  Some avoidance. Since the beginning of this year, according to a count published by the liberal Alan Guttmacher Institute, state legislatures have introduced nearly 500 pro-life measures. Most alarming to the institute and its allies, an unprecedented number of such measures are being passed, many by wide margins, and made law. 

...we noticed a very strong change in the legislature this year towards religious entities. Comments directed at Hawaii Family Forum, and other religious organizations, were negative. Pro‐family supporters walked away from several hearings disheartened at the way legislators allowed, and in some cases perpetuated, back‐ended derogatory comments about religious institutions. We have never before seen this type of discrimination at the capitol....

This spring, on Sunday, May 29, 2011, we will again create a festive environment to commemorate Yom Ha’atzmaut – Israel's Independence Day....

Representative Gene Ward, Ph.D. speaks with Dianne Glei Event Chair, for the Independence Day at Maunalua Bay; Kevin Nitta, treasurer of the Independence Day at Maunalua Bay Foundation and Laura Buck, the IDMB Foundation president.

...next Friday, June 3rd, we are on schedule to adopting a budget which (though imperfect in many ways) is definitely trying to make up for the shortchanging of taxpayers in years gone by....

The Honolulu Neighborhood Commission Office has announced the complete election results for Honolulu Neighborhood Boards. The online voting, which ended Saturday May 21 drew 13,264 voters for an 8.5% turnout.

Association of Alternative Newsweeklies CONDEMNS the attempt by Maui authorities to force this disclosure, and SUPPORTS the right of Maui Time and Tommy Russo to oppose this subpoena and CALLS ON the district attorney of Maui to immediately withdraw this subpoena and cease all efforts to chill the free speech rights of Maui Time readers.

...legal issues that the rail project will involve, include eminent domain, environmental questions, and the relationship with the newly-created Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit (HART), an agency within city government to oversee the project....

When the government chooses a preferred beneficiary before it condemns, the taking looks a lot more like the prohibited "A-to-B" taking that the Court professes to frown upon....

The Council on Revenues forecast today was unchanged for the current and upcoming fiscal years. Governor Neil Abercrombie has no plans to call for a special session.