National News

Tren Urbano (or City Train) in San Juan, Puerto Rico is a perfect comparison with Honolulu's heavy rail....

 ... federal civilian workforce, where staffing levels and salaries would be docked more than 8 percent .... 

Obama’s strategy for this part of the world started out much the way Jimmy Carter’s did—with acts of conciliation and accommodation....

"It is firmly within the constitutional rights of American citizens and, contrary to the embassy's statement, within the free speech rights of all human beings to speak openly and critically about Islam...."

The high-tech buoy network faced $4.5 million in cuts in February, and Hirono opposed bipartisan House legislation to fully fund the critical system for FY2013....

Long-term care, which includes nursing home and hospice services for seniors, makes up a significant portion of Medicaid spending around the country....

Moody's announced recently that it would no longer accept state and local governments' pension liability figures at face value....

 ‘Obama, Obama, There Are Still a Billion Osamas!’ -- The chant on the streets, three years after Obama's Cairo Speech.

Budget negotiations during the 2013 Congressional legislative session will likely determine the direction of the US government’s Aaa rating and negative outlook, says Moody’s Investors Service....

...in Afghanistan, Charles saw the best and worst in humanity. He saw the selfless sacrifice of our American soldiers but also utter human depravity in Taliban insurgents....

Eleven years ago today, terrorists shattered America's sense of safety. Generations who did not remember Pearl Harbor suddenly knew the shock of an attack on U.S. soil....

...all U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff in observance of Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance....

insights to effective advocacy, organization and mobilization....

The average teacher in Chicago Public Schools—a district facing a $700 million deficit—makes $71,000 per year before benefits are included.

Lingle also called for Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, a current member of Congress, to answer for the 40,000 unemployed in Hawaii and 12.5 million unemployed across the country with a real plan to put our people back to work.

Department of Defense (DoD) stands in clear violation of a central provision of this federal law, which mandated the creation of on-base voter assistance offices....

Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan do have a plan. They know that "government belongs to us". They know that if you have a business YOU built it.

Republicans will win back the Senate in the fall picking up seats in Wisconsin, North Dakota, Montana and Nebraska, the party's National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus predicts to Newmax.TV.

...a large chunk of Americans have simply given up looking for work. A significant number are collecting disability insurance instead....

"Joe Biden, thank you for being the best Vice President I could ever hope for...."

Jilly, I want you to know that Beau, Hunt, Ashley, and I are so proud of you....

Governor Abercrombie is in North Carolina attending the Democratic Governors Association meeting as well as the Democratic National Convention. The NGA announced its committees for the 2012 – 2013 year today....

“This is a very important step in implementing the National Ocean Policy in the Pacific,” said Dave Raney, Chair of the Sierra Club’s national Marine Action Team....

Government Accountability Office this week gave notice to the Administration that this type of law change must go through Congress....

Mazie Hirono has enabled this spending binge. She may be notorious for skipping votes—127 and counting so far this year—but she knows how to vote “aye” along party lines when it comes to more spending.

"For Democrats, there is no God in 2012 — at least as far as the party’s platform is concerned. Nor is there a Jerusalem." -- ABC News Sept 4

Obama’s Administration has already added almost $6 trillion to the debt. That means he is on track to triple Bush’s debt increase over eight years.

... over $50,000 for every American - including our children ....

As of today, the vast majority of American students have begun a new school year. As lunches are packed and carpool lines grow, Heritage reviews the good, bad, and ugly in education....

For the third consecutive year, State Budget Solutions examined state debt and calculated the total amount of debt that each state faces....

Hirono abstained from voting 23 times; Sen. Daniel Inouye abstained from voting nine times; Hanabusa abstained from voting six times; Sen. Daniel Akaka abstained from voting six times....

"Organized labor spends about four times as much on politics and lobbying as generally thought."

...Abercrombie and the governors of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI), and Guam have signed a partnership agreement to assist the region in identifying coastal and ocean management priorities....

Lie Number Five: Health Reform Is Going to Make Medicare More Efficient....

The debate in Tampa this week raised a number of issues....

The resolution asks for the federal government to “consult with our tribal governments and indigenous communities for guidance in all policies that affect our way of life ....

Full text of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s remarks to the Republican National Convention on Aug. 30 in Tampa, as prepared for delivery.

"People are really eager to go to convention and get everything going." -- David Chang, State GOP Chair

Heritage defense experts call Obama's defense strategy "a strategy of hope": "a hope that big wars are a thing of the past; a hope that America's allies will do more; and a hope that fewer resources do not jeopardize the lives of American soldiers."

Since the passage of President Obama's health care law, hospitals are increasing their size by acquiring private practices.

I accept the duty to help lead our nation out of a jobs crisis and back to prosperity- and I know we can do this....

A survey by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in July revealed that small businesses' top three concerns were taxes, regulations, and poor sales.... 

...according to the law's supporters, EMR adoption will yield cost savings. This conclusion, however, has not been definitively proven....

Federal subsidies in fiscal year 2010 for solar-generated energy were $775.64 per megawatt hour and $56.29 per megawatt hour for wind....

“This new Anti-Bullying Policy Yardstick helps schools identify which policies are driven by a narrow political agenda...."

Obama declared in his Saturday radio address that his proposed reforms “won’t touch your guaranteed Medicare benefits. Not by a single dime.”  This is incorrect. Obamacare cuts $716 billion from Medicare over the next 10 years....

Progressives admit to being "deeply suspicious of the claim that a health care system dominated by powerful vested interests and mystifying in its complexity can be tamed by consumers who are strapped for time, often poor, sometimes uneducated, confused and afraid." But just how valid are these concerns?

...this year marks the 100th anniversary of another Republican Convention embroiled in political drama of a different nature....

We must honor the promises we made to Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries and to those nearing that age," said Governor Lingle. “Our kupuna should not fear that their payments could be stopped or reduced during their lifetimes.”

Marco Mangelsdorf, who co-owns a company in Hawaii, ProVision Solar Inc ... has been fuming since he received a $138,000 tax bill in June from U.S. Customs, 250% more than what he paid for a shipment of Chinese panels he received in February ....