Hawaii State Government

...If there is a position taken by a committee chair on one bill or one issue that is not reflecting the wishes of the committee, why can't the committee simply reject the chair's recommendation?....

...entrenched interests within the DHS culture of secrecy are afraid of this book and its contents....

...the Senate remains open to negotiate an agreement with the House to ensure adequate financing to complete the project, yet minimize the impact on the most vulnerable citizens of the community....

...we were unable to agree with the Senate on funding to complete Honolulu’s rail system....

229 Bills have been passed by the Legislature.  15 have been signed into law as of May 4.  Another 214 are awaiting Gubernatorial action....

That’s because when government salaries increase, so do pension promises....

Most families in Hawaii know that they shouldn’t spend more money than they have. But somehow, Hawaii legislators haven’t gotten the message....

House and Senate conferees met on Monday to approve a final version of HB100 HD1 SD1, the state budget bill covering fiscal years 2018 and 2019....

...HB165 (now headed to a Conference Committee) would modernize the existing Sunshine Law by requiring electronic posting of public agency meeting notices and minutes and making board packets available for public inspection....

Rep Gene Ward today sent Attorney General Doug Chin a letter asking for a first Amendment ruling regarding the potential misuse of censorship on the House Floor on April 11, 2017....

2015: State Sues Tech Firm for Buying Influence with Abercrombie Administration....

Early agreements include funds for Medicaid increases, telehealth, housing....

...an additional $1.2 billion funding package for the City’s financially troubled rail project....

Much of the university’s request is not included in either the House or Senate version of the budget....

For Randy Perreira, head of the Hawaii Government Employees Association, the problems at Hawaii’s airports are just a matter of not enough kumbaya....

“Settling these claims now spares all parties years of litigation and lets HDOT use existing project monies to pay subs for the work that was done,” said Doug Chin....

When first introduced, HB1518 put forth a very worrisome proposal....

Pension obligations must be fulfilled eventually....

Hawaii lawmakers would like us to believe that they are cutting the state budget in the current legislative session, but it’s not true....

HB100 HD1 SD1 proposes reducing the Governor’s budget request by $114 million in general funds over the biennium -- The House version reduced the Governor's increase in spending by $500M....

...Hawaii’s public pension system has been operating like a Ponzi scheme....

...Ige’s current budget overspends by $292 million next year....

...Watchdog Group Says State Budget Must be Reevaluated....

The House Finance Committee March 9 passed out a proposed budget that reflects slower economic growth in Hawaii based on General Excise Tax collections and projections by the State Council on Revenues....

...State Senators today approved 318 bills on third reading. Sixty-six bills were approved earlier on third reading for a total of 384....

The House voted to pass on to the Senate today another 157 bills, bringing the total to 365...

There are currently 4,581 signatures....

...MAY 4   ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE....

Representative Gene Ward (R – District 17, Hawaii Kai) today requested the Department of Accounting and General Services for more security protection at the State Capitol....

...Unsustainable government salaries and pensions are worsening the crisis....

Note low scores in all government functions: Education, Crime, Infrastructure and ‘Government’ – High scores in non-government functions: Health Care, Opportunity, Economy....

...Ige announced that he would cut $220 million from his current spending plan. However, the ‘cuts’ are only reductions in proposed spending increases....

All legislative bills referred to more than one committee (i.e., those with multiple referrals) must have moved to their final committee in the originating chamber....

Hawaii is missing $23 billion ....

...100 “Short Form” bills have been introduced to the Hawaii legislature....

...New data show government outpacing private sector, pointing to an unhealthy economy....

HB381 is scheduled on Wednesday, February 8, 9:00 a. m. at the capitol's room 429....

Is a 7% return on investment sustainable into the future? Another organization that studied the issue said that a more realistic rate of return would be the “risk-free” rate, which they calculated at 2.344%....

...the sea water air conditioning business can use the funds to pay management highly inflated salaries, purchase other business opportunities, build sea water air conditioning plants outside of the State, or for any other purpose....

Considering how often we are promised "effective" policy or political plans that "work", there's surprisingly little effort spent measuring that effectiveness....

...for a new term that will begin July 1, 2017 and run for four (4) years....

...challenging times include high shipping costs, high taxes, a high rate of public sector unionism, shaky government pension programs, inadequate housing supply and pervasive homelessness, excessive business and employment regulations, cronyism and corruption....

...We have lots of liberal federal judges here so we can get a favorable ruling without difficulty....

3,600 words full of spending proposals and sunny guarantees about the future....

Okay, the same guys who brought us 42 air conditioners are going to solve the housing crisis....

"...we march, not out of fear and anger, but out of confidence in the direction we must take...."

...our state government paid half a million dollars in pension payments to people who were already dead. Well, then, what do you think of budgeting many times that amount for people who don’t even exist?....

Here are some resources for you....

And what was the most memorable part of his remarks? The introductions of Rep. Kouchi's campaign manager and of the highest paid lobbyist....