Hawaii State Government

...Waiving the entire “annual required contribution” or ARC payment to EUTF for this year would save the state about $840 million, according to one official….

...a list of all bills passed during the 2020 session....

... donning rose-colored glasses and approaching the budget shortfall as a temporary setback ....

...to fill the late Sen. Breene Harimoto’s state Senate seat. State Senate District 16 includes Pearl City....

"...The people of Hawaii are facing a dead economy, and thousands are waiting in food lines to feed their families...."

"...The revenue profiles of the state and the city and county are quite different. The state is much more exposed to volatile revenue sources such as general excise tax and transient accommodation tax (TAT)...."

...according to Senator Thielen CARES money was put in the Rainy Day fund so the governor couldn’t touch it....

...Statement of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association and American Lung Association....

...the institute said it "continues to have grave concerns," since "the powers contemplated in this bill are so sweeping and broad as to raise significant questions about privacy, civil liberties and constitutionality."....

...Those seeking to apply, renew, or obtain a duplicate credential can now choose “X” or “Not Specified” in the gender category instead of the binary “M” (Male) or “F” (Female)....

...Laughing at your sacrifice: Senate votes 21-3, House votes 45-4....

...Honolulu lawyers Robert Thomas and Jeff Portnoy address questions that have arisen during the coronavirus shut-down....

...With Hawaii facing its greatest financial crisis in generations, the state Legislature is finally taking action on balloon launches, a “climate innovation technology park” and red light cameras....

...a hard look at the most important limitation on government power in an emergency, the statutory requirement that any emergency proclamation automatically terminates no later than sixty days after it is issued....

...A legislative conference committee today approved a conference draft to Senate Bill 126 that amends the state budget and provides support to critical state services needed during the cononavirus pandemic....

...HB2500 SD1 would allow the state to borrow billions of dollars at a time when revenues are falling and expenses are increasing....

...The plan provides discretion to the Ige Administration to spend the remaining CARES funds to pay for unanticipated and emerging needs....

...A grim financial outlook is on the horizon for the state of Hawaiʻi due to the impact of COVID-19....

...just a few quick clicks and Hawaii went from a $1.4 billion deficit to a modest surplus....

...the augmented unemployment payments have done a fairly good job  preventing the worst from happening so far. But that program is set to expire August 1....

...threw Gov. Ige’s multiyear budget off target by a total of $26 billion between fiscal years 2020 and 2025....

...The Legislature will take up a limited number of bills, including budget matters and COVID-19-related legislation....

...Start working now to adopt a meaningful spending cap....

...Timesheets and leave requests are now transmitted electronically to payroll offices, replacing paper-based manual labor-intensive tracking methods in employee pay calculation....  

...how many times will Hawaii fall for phony High-Tech scamsters?....

...figuring out how to spend $1 billion of federal money that is being made available to Hawaii under the CARES Act....

...no details until after the June 2 deadline to file for election....

...attorney Scott Greenfield suggested proposals like these would raise “a great many curious issues” and “would appear to be outrageously unlawful sex discrimination with some serious likelihood of backfiring.”....

...More than $483 million in excess moneys may be available to be transferred from 57 special and revolving fund accounts to the General Fund without adversely affecting programs....

...the State Auditor has been busy at work trying to find options for legislators to consider for getting the state budget back on track....

...as of Sunday, May 17, Hawaii became Scattered Canary’s latest unemployment fraud victim....

...Bills passed during the past two weeks include....

...the State of Emergency is not justified by the numbers.... 

...The House also passed SB 3139 SD1 HD1 to transfer the remaining $635 million of the CARES Act money into the State’s Emergency Budget Reserve or “rainy day” fund to hold until decision can be made in June how to best use the funds....

...Hawaii’s economy has tanked and local tax revenues are plummeting, leaving the state and counties in danger of going bankrupt — starting with the state's public pension and health-benefits systems....

...state policymakers seem to believe that the answer to the worst economic crisis in decades is to borrow and spend — and very likely raise taxes....

...The bill calls for no increases until July 1, 2021....

...Keli'i Akina Challenges Lawmakers' Plan to Increase Borrowing and Spending....

...it isn’t the kind its leaders were counting on....

...Politician's Trick: Put off future raises rather than cancelling them outright and/or giving back past raises....

...the state deficit for fiscal year 2021 could grow to between $710 million and $1.8 billion....

...Grassroot testimony outlines the problem and suggests some reforms....

...significant deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting....

...if Hawaii’s lawmakers wish to save our state economy from its current freefall, they must not be afraid to reduce state spending....

... stopgap measures which could help prevent public employees from feeling the slightest suffering...for now....

... spending their time while social distancing daydreaming about how to restructure society into a progressive paradise ....

...Hawaii DoH is seeking 60 more contact tracers to total 90.  420 are needed ....

... Major reforms could help the pension system honor its promises ....

...Hawaii pension plan only 55% funded ranks 43rd among states....

...Representative Case says money from the CARES Act should be used for covering revenue losses....