Energy

Neil Abercrombie has gotten a lot of financial backing from the defense industry, especially since his rise to Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces. This has required him to modify the radical anti-war positions he espoused during his happy, hippie days on the U.H. campus. However, his wife, Nancie Caraway has undergone no such metamorphosis....

“While there is reason to be optimistic, we also need to be realistic and accept the fact that actual revenues are still significantly lower than earlier projected, and it will take several years before general fund revenues return to pre-recession levels.

“For this reason, the focus of our entire state must be on job creation.  The fact is, we cannot successfully revive our economy unless our residents get back to work.  My Administration is working with the Legislature to pass laws that will help businesses create new jobs, while also ensuring that any legislation that would hinder job creation does not pass.”

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle today signed a new law that will lower unemployment insurance (UI) taxes paid by all employers. Act 2 (HB2169 HD2) will save businesses an estimated $77 million in unemployment insurance tax payments over the next four years.

“While this law helps businesses get some tax relief as they struggle to keep their doors open and retain their employees, it falls far short of what is needed to grow our economy,” Governor Lingle said. “I urge the Legislature to take up this matter next year and pass a bill similar to the one I proposed that would have saved employers $497 million and kept close to a half billion dollars in our local economy.”

“The vested interest shared by the People’s Pulse Survey co-sponsors Hawai‘i Business Roundtable and Pacific Resources Partnership resulted in a poorly worded and misleading survey question.

“Also, the question failed to identify the Governor’s legal obligation to review and approve the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). 

“Under the law, the Governor must review the final EIS....

State House and State Senate members from across the islands are meeting at the State Capitol right now. The majority of these 76 elected officials are seriously considering increasing our already high cost of living in Hawaii by approving massive tax increases which will make everything you need to buy even more expensive.

Why? Because they refuse to tighten their belts like the rest of us.

The timetable for rail to continues to move into the future and there is much uncertainty that now appears unlikely to be resolved before Mayor Hannemann has to resign if he wants to run for Governor. If Mayor Hannemann resigns as Mayor to run for Governor while the future of rail hangs in the balance, the rail project will be put at risk. 

Ed Whelan, a one-time clerk to Justice Antonin Scalia and now president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, echoed those concerns.

“Liu believes that judges have the authority to impose their views … using clever verbal camouflage to disguise what they’re doing.”

State Health Planning and Development Agency (SHPDA): This is the agency responsible for the Certificate of Need program, and in years past, we have advocated for its demise, the program and the agency. 14 states have repealed this outdated program, and more are debating its demise. Because of our health care market, I would believe that private entities would apply just as much scrutiny, if not more, when it comes to the purchase of new medical technologies and equipment.

Eliminating SHPDA would save the state approximately $670,741 in FY 2011, and every year beyond.

Government in different levels of various communities have put restrictions on what type of toilets we can buy, which showerheads, light bulbs, windows, laundry detergents, plastic bags, vending machines with sodas or candy, meals prepared using trans-fats, what kind and amount of toilet paper, smoking inside your own home or car, punitive taxes on designated foods such as hamburgers and  French fries and sodas, the display of the American flag…the list is endless and getting worse.

This is happening at every level of government, including our local level.

HONOLULU – The Waialua High School Robotics team won the 2010 San Diego Regional FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Robotics) Competition held this weekend at the San Diego Sports Arena. 

The Waialua team, also known as The Hawaiian Kids, was part of a three-team alliance that took the top prize at the regional event that featured a total of 49 student robotics teams from around the country.  By winning the regional, Waialua has secured a spot for the seventh time in the 2010 FIRST International Championships that will be held in Atlanta, Georgia in April.

 Lorraine C. Miller

According to the Associated Press: “Shimizu testified in writing that Hawaii will be represented in the U.S. House by Rep. Mazie Hirono in the 2nd District while Abercrombie's seat is vacant.”

This is not accurate.  Hawaii’s First Congressional District is being represented by Fort Worth, Texas native Lorraine C Miller.

Headed by Maryland investor James Hawkins, Ko`olau Loa seeks $500 million in investment and projects $623 million in profits.  The development is planned for the Kahuku area of Oahu's North Shore.

HONOLULU – For the first time in 10 years, all 5,245 public housing units managed by the State of Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority (HPHA) have passed the rigorous physical inspection standards established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 

PRECISELY AS PREDICTED:  In order to shield themselves from the accountability that comes wth RTTT, the HSTA, DoE, and BoE have successfully sabotaged Hawaii's application for RTTT funds.  Their methods: Furloughs, and the continuing cap on start-up charter schools. 

Representative Gene Ward (R-Hawaii Kai-Kalama Valley) pointed out 15 "Job Killer" bills in debate on the House Floor yesterday. The taxes and fees will draw up to $500 million from Hawaii's economy and potentially force more layoffs. At $30,000 per employee, $500 million removed from the economy is over 16,000 jobs.

Neil Abercrombie has finally stepped up to do something great for the American people—he resigned.  Rep. Mazie Hirono has pledged not to support the Senate version of Obamacare because it is not socialist enough for her taste.  So with your help, Hirono can stand strong in her rejection of Senate Obamacare (which is a huge giveaway to insurance companies) and Hawaii will produce a double win for freedom, justice and the American Way.

A permit allows a privilege conveyed to individuals or agencies to perform an activity not normally available to the general public.  A permit carries a responsibility to uphold high standards that will benefit society and protect our environment. To exempt a single State agency, in this case the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, from this obligation is inappropriate and conveys to them disproportionate powers without adequate public accountability.

Pearl Imada Iboshi, the current Deputy Director for the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, was presented as an example of the kind of people that would be prohibited from returning to a civil service position for one year. She was appointed by Gov. Linda Lingle. But as soon as Lingle's term is over, Iboshi will automatically lose her position.

Imada served as the state's chief economist since 1995 and has been a member of the Council on Revenues since 1997. Her highest level of education is a doctorate in economics from the University of Hawaii. Ward described her as an archive of information.

"Because of HB 1868, she won't be able to return to be the state's chief economist when Lingle's term is over," Ward said. "For a year, we're all going to lose her institutional knowledge and expertise. And it'll all be because of a silly, partisan rule that goes against logic and the best interests of the public."

Concerned about continued liberal anguish over Neil Abercrombie’s abandonment of Obamacare, today’s Honolulu Advertiser instructs its readers not to discuss Neil Abercrombie’s “arrogance”, his “bad planning” or his “putting his own ambitions ahead of his constituents.”

While still fixated on race, national commentators are getting a little closer to understanding that the Akaka Bill will create a tribe which has nothing to do with representing Native Hawaiians.  Here are the latest examples of the conflicting description of the Akaka Bill as “race based” and the realization that because it has no blood quantum, the Akaka Tribe—or is it the Abercrombie Tribe--will exclude the vast majority of Native Hawaiians while admitting non-Hawaiians who just happen to be property developers.

After protests by veterans and exposure of the false vote counting, Cabanilla was forced to change her position.  On February 24 the bill passed the House Housing Committee and today was approved by the full House.

The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Rep Cabanilla’s office manager Leon Rouse is a convicted child molester and leading gay marriage advocate.

According to his campaign website, Ed Case "understands what excessive taxes and unnecessary regulation can do to our economic engine especially in tough times.”  But his voting record from 49 months in Congress shows that Ed Case voted 72 times for higher taxes or fees—on average one vote every 21 days. Case claims to be an independent "Blue Dog" Democrat, but most of the 72 votes were cast in lockstep with Rep. Nancy Pelosi's “progressive”-controlled House Democratic Caucus.

In an effort to dispel concerns that the creation of a race-based tribe violates the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause, Mr. Abercrombie added a six-page list of membership criteria that could include non-Hawaiian state residents. But the provision contains a self-destruct clause—as soon as the tribe is officially recognized, it can extend and deny membership based on any criteria it sees fit.

Big Island elected officials arriving to meet with Army representatives at Pohakuloa Training Area got a eye-opening surprise Wednesday morning  In addition to the usual gaggle of anti-Semites and 9-11 trooothers protesting against the military, they were greeted at the front gate by a dozen Big Island residents rallying to support the troops.

With EPOD, in-person interviews would no longer be required, and customers could submit applications online or by phoning a new DHS call center. Customers could still fax or mail applications, if they prefer, and receive in-person help at community social service agencies, health facilities and remaining DHS offices across the Islands.

Before long, the demand for in-person contact with DHS would diminish significantly as residents realize they can receive benefits faster and without spending time in offices.

Other EPOD advantages include:

• Reducing the complexity of work and risk of error or fraud;
• Creating a highly efficient “production” type atmosphere;
• Equalizing workloads among eligibility staff; and
• Eliminating the “silo” approach that interferes with efficient teamwork to get the job done.

Encyclopedia Britannica defines corporatism as:  "The theory and practice of organizing society into 'corporations' subordinate to the state. According to corporatist theory, workers and employers would be organized into industrial and professional corporations serving as organs of political representation and controlling to a large extent the persons and activities within their jurisdiction."

Time lapse photos from five minutes of tsunami surge in Hilo Bay

Previous Chilean earthquakes have produced deadly tsunami on the Big Island.  A 1960 Chile 9.6 magnitude quake caused a 30-foot wave in Hilo while a magnitude 8.0 quake in Chile in 1946 prompted 60 foot wave that devastated Laupahoehoe, sent wreckage into downtown Hilo, and destroyed the railroad along Hawaii’s east shores.

A hearing (Hearing Notice) before the Senate Ways and Means Committee and Labor Committee has been scheduled on HB 2169 HD2, the Unemployment Insurance Tax bill, for this Friday, February 26, at 10:00 a.m. at the State Capitol in Room 211. This is the last hearing on the bill and the final chance for you to submit testimony.

Honolulu, Hawaii. The House Committee on Finance this evening advanced major tax and revenue generation bills that propose to raise needed revenue for the state and to help balance the state budget as required by law.  The committee deferred bills that propose to raise the General Excise Tax and to raise income tax for higher-income individual taxpayers.

First Congressional District candidate Colleen Hanabusa praised the U.S. House of Representatives today for approving H.R. 2314, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2009.

Also Abercrombie floor speech, news release and media roundup of coverage on Akaka bill.

The election will be mail-in with a proposed ballot deadline of Saturday, May 22, 2010.  This tentative date is included in bid sheets issued or voting equipment by the Hawaii Office of Elections. 

Democratic candidate for governor of Hawaii Neil Abercrombie told KITV-TV that Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann is personally calling business owners to warn them against contributing money to Abercrombie’s campaign.

There’s nothing more troubling about the House voting on a fundamentally rewritten bill than the position made public by the Governor of Hawaii.  Something is very wrong when that Governor, a longtime vocal advocate of Native Hawaiian recognition, feels compelled to issue a statement last night, that she can’t support the rewritten bill.

Fifty-one years ago, 94.3 percent of Hawaiian residents voted to join the United States of America, surely this Congress owes the citizens of the State of Hawaii the ability to cast their vote on whether or not to create a new race-based governing body within their own state.  Hawaii voted to join the union as one unified state, if Congress is going to divide them, then the people of the State of Hawaii deserve to have their say.

"The House vote this evening is deeply disappointing.  We should stand together in opposition to racially divisive and discriminatory laws like this. The Native Hawaiian bill is unconstitutional and violates the national unity of E Pluribus Unum.  I will use all the tools available in the Senate to ensure that this bill does not become law."

Akaka Bill passes House (again).  Passage in Senate is doubtful as several GOP Senators have placed "holds" on bill or have pledged to do so.

• New, Undefined Sovereign Powers
• Immunity from lawsuits
• New Membership Criteria
• Lack of Definitions

Once Washington formally recognized the fledgling Native Hawaiian governing entity, that entity would have . . .

 “inherent power and authority to determine its own membership criteria, to determine its own membership, and to grant, deny, revoke, or qualify membership without regard to whether any person was or was not deemed to be a qualified Native Hawaiian constituent under this Act” (emphasis added)

“The HSTA’s latest action proves once again that the union leaders care more about money than educating Hawai‘i’s children.  Instead of accepting the generous offer of $50 million I proposed last November that will allow the immediate return of children and teachers to the classroom, the HSTA is spending their time on frivolous complaints."

A hearing for House Bill 2311, The Flag Bill, has been scheduled for this Wednesday, February 24 at 9:10 a.m.  

Should the Native Hawaiian governing entity unlawfully establish a casino despite Section 10(a) of the rewritten bill, then Section 9(c)(3)(H) of the rewritten bill could prevent the State of Hawaii from going to court to shut-down the illegal gaming operation....

This potential loophole is not an invented fantasy.  Over the years, there have been Indian casinos operating without state-approved compacts and in violation of state law.  If Congress passes the rewritten bill with this loophole, then the only authority that the State of Hawaii and its citizens could have to rely on to stop the illegal operation would be the federal government, which has been lax in acting on such matters.

The bill to establish a gaming commission to oversee casino gaming is moving this legislative session. If passed, the bill (HB 2251 HD1) would allow the gaming commission to issue one 5-year license to a casino gaming operation in a county with a population of more than 500,000. The bill also creates a wagering tax on casino gaming. (HB2251 HD1 - click to read bill). 

Well, I’m certainly pro-transit. I think a rail system in some configuration would be good for us; but I want to make certain we can afford it over the long-term.

I wanted to be able to look him in the eye and say, “Look, this is not politics. This is the most expensive transit project in the history of America.  Per-capita there is no system that has cost this much in such a small population base as Hawai‘i and people need to realize that. 

When I said that to him, he did not respond back or challenge that fact; and it is a fact.

“The basic problem as I see it, is that in the current version of the bill, the ‘governmental’ (non-commercial) activities of the Native Hawaiian governing entity, its employees, and its officers, will be almost completely free from State and County regulation, including free from those laws and rules that protect the health and safety of Hawai‘i's people, and protect the environment. ’Governmental’ activity is a broad undefined term that can encompass almost any non-commercial activity.

“This structure will, in my opinion, promote divisiveness and litigation, rather than negotiation and resolution. 

“I do not believe such a structure, of two completely different sets of rules – one for ‘governmental’ activities of the Native Hawaiian governing entity and its officers and employees, and one for everyone else – makes sense for Hawai‘i. 

“In addition, under the current bill, the Native Hawaiian governing entity has almost complete sovereign immunity from lawsuits, including from ordinary tort and contract lawsuits, and I do not believe this makes sense for the people of Hawai‘i.

By a voice vote, the House Rules Committee today authorized Rep Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) to introduce a “substitute amendment” which replaces the old version of the Akaka Bill (HR2314) passed in December by the House Committee on Natural Resources.  As a result of today’s vote, Abercrombie’s new version of the Akaka Bill will go directly to the floor of the House.

The Court held that the Congress cannot create an Indian tribe where one does not exist, but can rather, only recognize groups who have long operated as a tribe with a preexisting political structure . . .

Even though the House Rules Committee will take up this bill tonight at 5 pm and the full House may vote on the bill as soon as tomorrow, Natural Resources Committee Republicans are believed to be the only entity providing the public with the new legislative language as it is currently unavailable on the majority’s House Rules Committee website and Natural Resources Committee website.