Entries for October 2012

2.9 percent of all new electric vehicles sold so far in the U.S. this year were registered in Hawaii, ranking the state 10th in the country. This rate is almost eight times the state’s share of all new car registrations in the U.S., where Hawaii ranks 41st overall at 0.4 percent.

Civil Beat's pollster over samples Democrats, using 56% self-identified Democrats. Our nationally-recognized pollster believes this figure should be 42%....

Hawaii looted its catastrophe fund to "balance" the budget and doubled down by taking borrowed money to replenish it....

"It's happening. Romney winning independents, safe Obama states no longer safe, female gap closing. Obama is in trouble."

There are some striking similarities between the private student loan market and subprime mortgage industry....

On this Halloween, a truly frightening specter is looming....

$1436.40 per household per year is currently being paid into Hawaii government employees pensions—third highest in the nation. Table 4 (pg. 48) shows that an additional $1288 per household is needed ....

The United States is experiencing a revolution in oil and gas....

Our campaign is surging in the closing days! As we approach Election Day, you can feel the momentum building....

With 7 days to go, this race is a dead heat. Here are the results ....

The Hawai‘i State Environmental Council has issued a draft of revised rules for the state's environmental review process....

"State and Local Tax Policy: Taxing E-commerce" focused on taxation of e-commerce, hotel room rentals by online travel agencies, and the impact of tax credits....

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 ....

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SMS did a survey of 303 interviews, 90% said they unfamiliar with `Aina Koa Pono (AKP). 10% were aware of AKP. The math says this is 29-31 people.

Rather than pretending that the damage of tax increases is limited to “rich” people, it makes sense to look at overall economic effects, either nationally or within each state....

...the RFP is expected six months before the IRP process is complete and at least a year before the results of the PEIS are released....

This timely study represents the most comprehensive analysis of American teacher unions’ strength ever conducted....

Particularly hard hit is the defense industry, which employs millions of Americans. The Pentagon is set to lose nearly $55 billion....

...The Star Advertiser polled 60% of Democrats in their sample; while our pollster believes that the number of Democrats in our congressional district is closer to 45% of the electorate....

"This is a common tactic for Hirono to tout the great efforts of so many others as her own...."

...in the Democrat Primary election, the Ward poll showed Tulsi Gabbard losing to Mufi Hannemann by 10 points and she went on to win by 21....

Liliha, “the last of the old-time places on Oahu”, is being targeted by the pro-development Pacific Resources Partnership....

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Lawmakers seem to have a simplistic reaction to solving problems the solution to which plagues their constituents - tax it.

Hawai'i Free Press endorsements on State and County ballot initiatives....

Hirono has been on the wrong side of every small business issue during this session.

...the Company has 45 days from receipt of the notification to submit a plan to the NYSE to demonstrate its ability to achieve compliance with the continued listing standards within 18 months....

...according to AAN the total Medicare cuts to Hawaii are $2,151,990,000.  That means cuts of $10,648 to each and every one of our 202,097 kupuna....

Retired Judge Charles Woods descibes meeting Pres Obama, V Pres Biden and Sec'y Clinton....

Defend Ben is now doing the same thing on behalf of Ben's candidacy, and Ben is certainly not censuring Defend Ben....

...free food and an opportunity to tell Charles about the issues you care about most....

... candidates who strongly support saving farmland and who will work to promote local farms ....

Even when given a softball question on finding common ground between the political parties, Colleen Hanabusa, actually stated, "I'm not quite sure what you mean by common ground."

...the pig is so much more than just a resource to the Ancient Hawaiian, and I hardly think that “invasive” ....

As you read, remember that whatever Congress does to Indian Tribes will become law for the Akaka Tribe as well.

Brookings' analysis of international commercial air travel passenger levels within the United States' global aviation network ....

The law in question is called the WARN Act, and it requires that federal contractors send employees layoff notices 60 days before a plant closing or mass layoff....

Proposal #1 on the Honolulu ballot “Relating to Grants in Aid” would create a massive Ward Heelers’ Slush Fund and mandate 0.5% of estimated general fund revenues be poured into it yearly....

Maui county does participate in the poorly funded state pension plan. Its other post-employment benefit (OPEB) liability is also large....

Urge the Governor to rescind Executive Agreements between the State of Hawaii, the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) and HECO that were put in place in 2008 ....

Hawaii had the highest percentage of multi-generational households, accounting for 11.1% of all family households in that state....

...the groups are asking DLNR to conduct environmental reviews before granting permits that allow unlimited aquarium collection of marine wildlife in coastal waters....

...public schools are still the only game in town when it comes to financing, developing and deploying public school buildings....

... join me in supporting the following candidates who will bring bi-partisanship and balance to government ....

Tonight at 8:00 p.m. PBS will host the final debate ....

...simultaneous engagement of five ballistic missile and cruise missile targets....

CMS has now included the details of a home’s three most recent routine inspections. For many homes, that means results from 2009 and 2010 are now available online....

... the “new patriotism” means paying more in taxes ....