Ethics

... We reviewed 104 Senate and House bills introduced during the 2022 legislative session proposing 63 special and revolving funds.  None satisfied the criteria set forth in section 23-11, HRS ....

... one month after the arrest of English and Cullen, all state facilities managed by DAGS will reopen to the general public ....

... The practice of gut-and-replace allowed state lawmakers to pass laws without a full set of public hearings ....

... The Judicial Council nominates two individuals for each vacancy on the Commission. The nominees’ names are sent to the Governor, who selects one of the nominees for appointment....

... HB2303 HD1, which would exempt “drafts, internal memoranda and correspondence, and other deliberative and pre-decisional materials that are a direct part of an agency’s internal decision-making process” from Hawaii’s open records law ....

... Ige will choose one of the three who, remarkably, don't include former HSTA president Rosenlee ....

... The Hawaii Senate Judiciary Committee has recommended approval of a bill that would ban fundraising activities for lawmakers during legislative sessions. ...

... Defendants Sentenced for Scheme to Defraud Local Housing Programs of Over $100,000 ....

... Heidi's husband, Chad Tsuneyoshi, is a federal ex-con convicted for his part in a 1000kg cocaine ring ....

... Former Executive Director of the Hawaii Commission Sentenced To 46 Months in Prison for Embezzling from AmeriCorps And Offering a Bribe in Return for CARES Act Grants ....

... The committee on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-22-22 at 9:30 am. ...

... Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund Revolving Fund $15,448,000 ....

... Dems will forward Rosenlee and two others to Gov Ige so he can pick Rosenlee ....

"The CLFCU unit was to spearhead the criminal prosecution of White Collar and government corruption crimes. So far, completed cases that were sent to the unit have not been forwarded for indictments and are held in abeyance for no reason." -- Chief Investigator Daniel Hanagami

... SB2916 would prohibit the governor or mayor from suspending requests for public records or vital statistics during a declared state of emergency ....

... The House is re-opening the State Capitol to the public beginning March 7, 2022. House members, House staff, and the public will be required to adhere to the state vaccination policy to enter the State Capitol ....

... Each defendant faces maximum penalties of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 at their sentencings, which are set before Judge Mollway on July 5, 2022 ....

... At times, it’s nearly impossible to know exactly why a bill was killed or who was for or against it. Such things happen behind the scenes ....

... According to the indictment, Martin Kao, 48, Clifford Chen, 48, and Lawrence “Kahele” Lum Kee, 52, all of Honolulu, were employed by a defense contractor prohibited from making contributions in federal elections ....

... In the federal system the little fish eats the big fish.  We've got a menu .... 

... how widespread this corruption is in our government ....

... Rep Ty Cullen and former cocaine dealer J Kalani 'Powdernose' English arrested today ....

... Want to pass one of these bills?  Go ahead, make my day! ....

... Efforts to rein in the watchdog continue ....

... will remain in effect through March 25, 2022 ....

... OIP has recently received dozens of complaints from the public alleging deficient meeting notices for various Sunshine Law boards that were filed on the State Calendar ....

... attorney Mike Green indicated in the Sunday paper, President Lassner and AD Matlin’s actions may cause legal jeopardy for the State of Hawaii ....

... The word now is that leaders are reconsidering ....

... Broadband telecommunication customers on Hawaiian Home Lands will soon have more options under the lifting of a former exclusivity clause that allowed only one provider ....

"...For these accused felons to have taken money budgeted to hire more police officers and use it to pay off a failed former police chief is sickening...."

... Alm’s subpoena of credit card records and video from the AnyPlace Lounge in Rep Sharon Har’s recently-dismissed DUI case ....

... “The decision to keep the building closed ... was made to minimize the spread of COVID-19 among members, staff, visitors (ie lobbyists and other insiders), and other building occupants (ie lobbyists and other insiders). The building status will be reevaluated in the coming weeks (ie after the session is over)” ....

... Ethics Commission Chair Melinda Wood stated: “Mr. Harris has the right mix of public policy, litigation, and managerial experience to excel in this role." ....

... Hawaii’s website falls short of breaking down what money was spent on beyond the vague spending category descriptions, which leave a lot of gray area ....

... Whether the committee ultimately steps back from its excursion beyond the bounds of its legally authorized investigation remains to be seen; that will depend on the committee’s final report ....

... Ige has signed an emergency proclamation temporarily suspending an upcoming provision in Hawaiʻi’s Sunshine Law that would have mandated at least one in-person location be held for public meetings ....

... Police Corruption Scandals Revenge for Gambling Prosecutions? ....

... This proves there is much more corruption to be ferreted out--and the crooks know it ....

... produced fictitious bids in order to make the procurement process appear legitimate ....

... The Agency employs the relevant employees at state-run facilities. Recently, it has allowed some employees to become employees of the Non-Profit, which can offer additional benefits beyond those typically offered to state employees ....

... OHA is seeking a new ‘Auditor’ willing to generate a report that will condemn the CLA Audit as “inflammatory statements” and “lies” ....

... Exhibit C of the latest Proclamation suspends the Sunshine Law to enable boards to conduct meetings without any members of the boards or the public physically present in the same location ....

... 2020: Insider Cacao Scheme: KSBE out $4M -- but OHA Dodges Bullet ....

... Court Strikes Down ‘Gut and Replace’ -- Legal Expert Robert Thomas Weighs in ....

... guess what happens next .... 

... A person challenging a bill still needs to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the bill is unconstitutional.  And remember, it took a 3-2 vote to hold that recidivism and hurricane shelters are unrelated ....

... To fund this insider giveaway, the HGIA board voted to take away $2.5M set aside for low and middle income households and $5M set aside for multi-family projects ....

... a well-functioning republic presumes that those tasked with vigilance -- the public -- have the opportunity to understand the substance of what those whom we elect to represent us are actually doing ....

... Grassroot Institute submitted an amicus curiae brief in support of the plaintiffs, arguing that the practice was eroding public trust in government and short-circuiting the democratic process ....

... The Hawaii Supreme Court, in a 3-2 decision, dealt a serious blow to the Legislature’s “gut and replace” tactic ....