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Monday, October 12, 2009
Hawaii evangelical churches plan election push
By Selected News Articles @ 12:26 AM :: 9265 Views :: Energy, Environment

Catholic and evangelical Protestant leaders hope to push Hawaii politics rightward, preparing an election-year effort in 2010 to organize their parishioners into voting blocks that can help elect like-minded candidates. And they are hoping to use the issue of civil unions to get them there.

The state Legislature next year is expected to reconsider a proposal to allow gay and lesbian couples to form civil unions. The measure, which is on hold in the state Senate, generated some of the largest rallies ever seen at the normally placid Capitol earlier this year.

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Friday, October 9, 2009
Hawaii budget crisis: Adult Supervision vs Team Chaos
By Andrew Walden @ 7:10 PM :: 10701 Views :: Energy, Environment

In spite of widespread anger by public school parents, few legislators have joined the call by former tax cheat and Lt Gov candidate Gary Hooser for a special session.  But that is not the only game in town. While the mayors stall for time, the UHPA has rejected the UH system’s contract offer--unsurprising since Dan Inouye's handpicked UH system President is a poster girl for profligacy.  UHPA boss AJ Musto, now calls for the legislature to return to session and enact tax increases.  They will head to arbitration.  The UPW is refusing to engage in serious negotiations, also insisting on arbitration—a strategy designed to bring a December arbitration ruling which will deliver the problem to the next legislative session in January. 

Every bit of this game is about next year’s gubernatorial election. 

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Thursday, October 8, 2009
Paper vs. Plastic: An environmental comparison
By Selected News Articles @ 1:05 PM :: 16234 Views :: Environment, Small Business

 

  • It takes more than four times as much energy to manufacture a paper bag as it does to manufacture a plastic bag.
  • Paper sacks generate 70% more air and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags.
  • It takes 91% less energy to recycle a pound of plastic than it takes to recycle a pound of paper.

One more thing: "In California, bag manufacturers successfully sued Oakland and Manhattan Beach after those cities banned plastic bags. The bag makers complained that officials didn't prepare a report detailing the environmental impact, such as the increased use of paper sacks."  

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Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Life and Death Medical Challenges on Maui
By Malia Zimmerman @ 2:15 PM :: 14042 Views :: Kauai County, DHHL, Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics

Ellen Bellerose rushed to Maui Memorial Medical Center's emergency room at her cardiologist's direction after she felt severe pain and pressure in her neck, chest and arms. As the pain intensified over the next two hours, she walked up to the counter three times to report difficulty breathing. She was told there were no beds available. "I was becoming terrified that I could die, unattended, in the emergency room." Although registered as a patient for 27 hours, she never entered the main hospital that February 7, 2006, but was billed as if she had.

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Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Competition, Not Price-Controls, Will Save Medicare
By Heritage Foundation @ 12:23 AM :: 8586 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics

Every version of Obamacare waiting to be merged into one bill on Capitol Hill cuts billions of dollars from the Medicare Advantage program.... The better option would be to move Medicare towards a true “premium support” system where the government would make direct contributions to all beneficiaries who could then control how to spend their own health care dollars. This would be the same model as the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) which provides health insurance to Members of Congress.

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Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Hashimoto not to seek Senate seat
By News Release @ 7:39 PM :: 7208 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment

However more than ever, the Hawaii Christian Coalition will be heavily involved in the upcoming elections in 2010. We are presently opening chapters on Maui and Kauai, and ask that you stand with us as we continue to be a strong to protect Hawaii's families against rising taxes,and insuring that our Keiki's receive quality education in our school system. We will also be strong advocates for traditional marriage and protection of the innocent child in the womb.

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Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Norman Borlaug: Feeding the hungry, saving the wildlife
By Dennis T. Avery @ 2:09 PM :: 10887 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics, World News, Family

...much of the environmental movement blames Norman Borlaug for preventing the massive famines that would have solved the “population problem” quickly in the 1960s—with starvation.  But the starving would have raped the wildlife habitat before they allowed their children to die. Today, we’ve solved the population problem with affluence....

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Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Inouye earmarks tied to campaign contributions
By News Release @ 12:11 PM :: 10665 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics

New chairman Daniel Inouye (D-HI) requested 46 earmarks worth $330.8 million and received 35 earmarks worth $206.5 million in the final bill. Inouye has received $173,000 in campaign contributions since 2007 from the companies he requested earmarks for. The biggest donor among them is Lockheed Martin, which operates a major facility in Hawaii and donated $61,300.

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Monday, October 5, 2009
Support Samoa/Philippines relief: Downtown Honolulu Tuesday 11am-1pm
By News Release @ 10:28 PM :: 8153 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment

the Hawai'i Republican Party is teaming up with the American Red Cross to raise money for relief efforts in American Samoa and the Philippines.  Please join us TOMORROW:

  • When: Tuesday, October 6, 2009
  • Where: Downtown Honolulu, intersection of King St. and Bishop St.
  • Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm
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Sunday, October 4, 2009
HELCO "feed-in tariff" to boost green energy
By Gov. Linda Lingle @ 12:33 AM :: 5395 Views :: Energy, Environment

Through a price guarantee, or feed-in tariff, for electricity produced by sun, wind, and hydroelectric sources, Hawaiian Electric Companies will now pay a set rate for renewable energy fed into the grid. This incentive will draw additional investment into Hawai‘i’s renewable energy developments and signify to the rest of the nation and global community that Hawai'i is a model for clean energy initiatives.

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Friday, October 2, 2009
NRCC: Tax-Hiking Colleen Hanabusa Headed for Third Defeat
By News Release @ 1:39 AM :: 11848 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics

While having no qualms with voting to take money from taxpayers in one of the worst recessions in history, Colleen Hanabusa somehow feels entitled to give herself and fellow legislators a pay raise.

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Thursday, October 1, 2009
Djou, Case respond to Hanabusa Congressional campaign announcement
By News Release @ 5:57 PM :: 9459 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment

"I welcome Colleen Hanabusa to the race.  Like Ed Case, Colleen has run for the 2nd Congressional District multiple times before and I respect that she will be an experienced candidate for this race in the 1st District. If Colleen wins her contested nomination, I look forward to debating her on the issues," stated Djou.

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Thursday, October 1, 2009
Hawaii GOP for 2010: "You like run?"
By News Release @ 5:40 PM :: 5061 Views :: Energy, Environment

If you or others you know are interested in running as Republicans, please email us at youlikerun@gophawaii.com.

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Thursday, October 1, 2009
Hawaii TEA Party: Let teachers come back paid by parents
By News Release @ 4:36 AM :: 11758 Views :: Kauai County, DHHL, Energy, Environment

Hodges is asking the state and the unions to waive contract terms and regulations that may prohibit furloughed teachers from returning to work under private contract and to streamline approval processes so community volunteers can be mobilized quickly and effectively.

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Thursday, October 1, 2009
"Recording Error": General Fund drops another $44M
By News Release @ 4:31 AM :: 4865 Views :: Energy, Environment

The discrepancies were due to errors in the recording of tax revenues collected in FY08 and FY09.  In FY09, $44 million was collected by the Department of Taxation as part of its Delinquent Tax Program.  This amount was incorrectly recorded when the Department of Accounting and General Services prepared its FAMIS reports.  A similar recording error of $800,000 also occurred for FY08.

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Thursday, October 1, 2009
Gov. Lingle seeks public comment on Judicial Nominees
By News Release @ 4:14 AM :: 9722 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment

Edward H. Kubo, Jr. – Current position: outgoing U.S. Attorney, District of Hawai‘i.  Prior experience: assistant U.S. attorney, District of Hawai‘i; deputy prosecuting attorney, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, Honolulu; associate trial attorney, Carlsmith and Dwyer; law clerk, Kobayashi and Watanabe.

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Monday, September 28, 2009
Kaauwai: DoE political opportunism at expense of keiki
By Jonah Ka`auwai @ 5:15 PM :: 5497 Views :: Energy, Environment

Hawai`i’s teachers and students are pawns in a larger game of political power and control.  The discussion today should be about the DOE’s massive waste and ways to trim it instead of what our children will be doing for the 17 days off.

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Monday, September 28, 2009
Obama Must Lead On Afghanistan (Abercrombie debunked)
By Heritage Foundation @ 2:09 PM :: 10784 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics

According to President Obama, victory against the Taliban in Afghanistan is not only essential for the security of the United States, but for “the safety of people around the world.” We couldn’t agree more, which is why it is so alarming to learn that President Obama is considering a different strategy advocated by Vice President Joe Biden. Just as Biden opposed the successful surge in Iraq, Biden now opposes a surge in Afghanistan, instead favoring withdrawing most U.S. troops leaving only special forces and predator drones to strike al Qaeda cells. Biden was wrong about Iraq and he is wrong about Afghanistan.

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Monday, September 28, 2009
Inouye's DoD Pork: "Paid for by raiding Iraq and Afghan maintenance, food, & fuel"
By Selected News Articles @ 1:05 PM :: 11317 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics

The bill contains typically huge piles of pork - much of it not listed in the committee's list of earmarks - paid for by raiding the spending needed to support the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is the usual atrocious funding mechanism the Appropriations and Armed Services Committees have employed for years - they use the Operation and Maintenance account of the bill as an "offset" to pay for the billions in pork added throughout the bill. Put simply, the parts of the bill that support training, spare parts, maintenance, food, fuel and much else the troops at war need the most are reduced to enable the money added for earmarks.

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Monday, September 28, 2009
Kawamura on budget: Hooser "out of touch with reality"
By News Release @ 12:54 PM :: 12210 Views :: Honolulu County, Democratic Party, Energy, Environment

Hooser prefers that we hold hearings and community discussions to debate the type and size of government we should have. Lawmakers can hold such hearings during the next legislative session, or even schedule them now while the Legislature is on its break. Frankly, the Legislature should have held such discussions three or four years ago, when the State had money to invest in our long-term future.

While Hooser is busy debating options, the Administration is facing up to our fiscal responsibility and obligation to the people of Hawai‘i by taking immediate steps to address the current financial crisis. Many of the decisions that are being made are not ones that we want to make, but we are doing what needs to done in order to ensure the State government does not run out of money, which will happen if we wait as Hooser suggests.

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Saturday, September 26, 2009
Dishonorable Watada: Military should overthrow Congress, President
By Andrew Walden @ 10:40 AM :: 11182 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics

Watada implicitly calls for the United States Armed Forces to impose its will on the elected civilian leadership of the nation saying, "If soldiers realized this war is contrary to what the Constitution extols – if they stood up and threw their weapons down – no president could ever initiate a war of choice again."

Watada closes by calling on soldiers to stop "allowing" the U.S. government this liberty.  "Those who called for war prior to the invasion compared diplomacy with Saddam to the compromises made with Hitler. I say, we compromise now by allowing a government that uses war as the first option instead of the last to act with impunity."

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Friday, September 25, 2009
Hawaii Islam Day organizers celebrate with brand new excuse for holding event on September 11 Julian
By Andrew Walden @ 10:00 PM :: 6915 Views :: Energy, Environment

Its late in the game, but Hakim Ouansafi, head of the Muslim Association of Hawaii has yet another excuse for steering the Legislature to celebrate Islam Day on September 24, 2009--a day which just happens to correspond to September 11, 2009 in the old Julian calendar.  Talking to the Honolulu Advertiser, Ouansafi says: "Yesterday was selected because it marked the end of Ramadan...." 

But a quick glance at an Islamic calendar shows that Ramadan ended on September 19, 2009.  The next day, Eid al-Fitr, September 20 is an important annual Islamic feast day.  There is nothing significant about September 24.

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Friday, September 25, 2009
GOP: Hooser's only idea--"increase taxes"
By Jonah Ka`auwai @ 6:53 PM :: 9984 Views :: Honolulu County, Democratic Party, Energy, Environment

Read between the lines of Sen. Hooser’s commentary and you will see the only idea he has is to increase taxes on Hawai'i’s already overtaxed citizens.  We need elected officials who can make difficult decisions and solve complicated problems, not hope someone else will find a solution.

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Friday, September 25, 2009
Wisconsin Teacher accused of sexual misconduct working at Kamehameha
By Selected News Articles @ 1:41 PM :: 15138 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics

Accused 1992 of sexual misconduct with St. Lawrence Seminary HS students. Reportedly fired in 1988 for similar allegations then rehired. Criminally charged 1/93 with enticing child for immoral purposes and intimidating victim. Judge dismissed case, but noted evidence that Gardipee had disrobed in front of boy. Lawsuit 4/93 cited sexual abuse, harassment, and stalking of teen; expanded 1994, accusing Capuchins of racketeering; dropped 1995 due to WI S.C. ruling Pritzlaff v. Arch. of Milwaukee.
Milwaukee, WI.

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Friday, September 25, 2009
UPDATE: Taking Islamism to the Streets
By Andrew Walden @ 11:31 AM :: 11484 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics, World News, Family

Attorney and "main organizer" of “Islam on Capitol Hill”, Hassen Ibn Abdellah is President of the Elizabeth, New Jersey Dar ul-Islam, Inc.  Abdellah was, described October 25, 1993 by the New York Times, as the “most aggressively combative of the lawyers” representing the terrorists who staged the 1993 World Trade Center attacks.  His client, the Egyptian-born Mahmud Abouhalima, was convicted of helping to manufacture and transport the bomb detonated in the 1993 attack and is now incarcerated in the Federal "Supermax" prison at Florence, Colorado.

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Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Lingle: "Overwhelming majority of teachers demonstrated leadership"
By Gov. Linda Lingle @ 6:05 PM :: 5370 Views :: Energy, Environment

“The Department of Education, Board of Education and the Hawai‘i State Teachers Association, along with the overwhelming majority of teachers who ratified this contract have demonstrated leadership in dealing with the current financial crisis.  They understand that everyone must make a shared sacrifice to help our state get through this difficult period and for State government to live within its means."

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Sunday, September 20, 2009
Abercrombie and Hirono co-sponsor Gay Marriage Bill (The Broken Trust connection)
By Andrew Walden @ 2:54 PM :: 17847 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics

Co-sponsored by Rep Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) and Rep Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and their comrades in the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep Jerrold Nadler, September 15, introduced H.R. 3567, a bill that would repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

HR 3567 would require Hawaii and all other states, territories, and Indian Tribes to recognize same-sex marriages performed in jurisdictions where such marriages are now legally recognized.

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Friday, September 18, 2009
UPDATE: Hirono votes for ACORN funding after child prostitution scheme exposed
By Selected News Articles @ 6:27 PM :: 12381 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics

'UNDERCOVER': James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles show off the not-so-subtle costumes they wore during their ACORN stings.

UPDATE: If you needed help with your ... uh ... "business", the Hawaii ACORN office is was located at 949 Kapiolani in Honolulu right next to the offices of the leftist Hawaii People's Fund.  But you can't pull on your beaverskin fedora and hop in your '73 Coupe Deville and cruise on over--because they've abandoned their office.  But be sure to thank Mazie Hirono for her support anyway.

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Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Gov Lingle hosts Int'l Women's Leadership Conference
By News Release @ 8:39 PM :: 13378 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics, World News, Family

One of the speakers, Michelle Rhee, is the chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools System, the seventh person to hold the post in the past 10 years.  Intent on reforming the D.C. school system, Rhee has fired non-productive teachers, principals and central office administrators, and proposes to make D.C. teachers the best paid in the country by partnering with private philanthropists to create financial incentives for improved teacher performance.  The daughter of immigrants from South Korea, in 1997, Rhee founded the New Teacher Project, which in 10 years has recruited 10,000 teachers for hard-to-staff inner-city schools in 20 states.

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Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Gay Marriage: "Hannemann won't divulge positions on hot issues"
By News Release @ 6:27 PM :: 13371 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment

HONOLULU — Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who earlier this year raised almost $660,000 for an expected gubernatorial campaign in 2010, refused Monday to disclose his positions on same-gender civil unions, gay marriage and abortion rights.

Hannemann campaign spokeswoman Elisa Yadao was asked to provide the mayor's positions on the three hot-button issues. She responded in an e-mail: "As Mufi is not an official candidate, we are not participating in stories featuring candidates who have announced their intention to run for governor."

"That's a pretty lame defense," said University of Hawaii political scientist Dan Boylan....

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Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Valerie Jarrett: The Next Van Jones
By Selected News Articles @ 1:05 PM :: 11884 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics

Many have wondered how ANYONE AS EXTREME AS Obama’s “Green Jobs Czar” Van Jones – a self-described “Communist” obsessed with racial conspiracy theories – could have been named to head a federal agency. David Horowitz described the radicalization of the Democratic Party as the appointment’s subtext. Closer to the fore, Jones owed his elevation to another new factor: the unparalleled influence of Valerie Jarrett.

To call Jarrett a presidential adviser, even a close adviser, is misleading. She is an alter ego, an inner conscience, a touchstone of clarity for both President Obama and first lady Michelle. In the frenzy of the presidency, she reminds both Obamas of their identity and deepest-held beliefs. In exchange, the president makes no decision without her and has said she can “speak for me.” Unfortunately, she is also a racially polarizing elitist.

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Monday, September 14, 2009
Gov. Lingle reviewing HSTA-DoE settlement
By News Release @ 7:35 PM :: 7947 Views :: Energy, Environment

“I appreciate the Department and Board of Education taking the lead in these negotiations, in coordination with my negotiation team, to work toward reaching an agreement with the HSTA that is in the best interest of teachers, our students and the general public, and that recognizes our growing budget shortfall.  My negotiation team, including the budget director and the attorney general, are currently reviewing the proposed contract and I hope to reach a decision soon."

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Friday, September 11, 2009
Lingle: 5% revenue decline steeper than projections
By Gov. Linda Lingle @ 1:47 PM :: 5697 Views :: Energy, Environment

“While the State has already reduced spending by over $2 billion over the past year, without impacting labor costs, the reality is we can no longer afford to maintain the current level of labor expenses.  I am continuing to work toward reaching a negotiated settlement with the public employee unions, rather than wait for a binding arbitration decision in December.”

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Thursday, September 10, 2009
Hawaii Republicans respond on Health Care: Tort reform, more competition in insurance market
By News Release @ 11:39 AM :: 7560 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics

Charles Djou: "But we need to do healthcare reform right.  The continued push for a massive $1 trillion government healthcare insurance program is the only key aspect of the address I disagree with.  Our nation should focus on real reforms that make sense without breaking the taxpayers’ bank including medical malpractice tort reform, allowing the inter-state sale of health insurance and equalizing the tax treatment of corporate and individual health insurance.”

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Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Washington Times: Shakedown at the luau--Congress tries to carve up Hawaii
By Selected News Articles @ 4:14 PM :: 7920 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics

As for the legislation's promise of "reconciliation," we are wondering what or who exactly is in need of reconciliation. When Hawaii accepted statehood in 1959, a mind-bending 94.3 percent of Hawaii voters cast ballots in favor of joining the union. They did so because statehood brought great benefits, not burdens meriting reconciliation.

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Monday, September 7, 2009
The Blogger Who Nailed Van Jones
By Selected News Articles @ 9:17 PM :: 8868 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics

If the Van Jones resignation is blamed on his statements about Republicans and 9/11, a great lesson will have been lost. As we argued in a previous column, "It's the communism, stupid." If people don't recognize the dangers of having a communist in the White House, then the nature of the scandal will not have been understood. Blogger Trevor Loudon of New Zealand broke the story on April 6 and has some thoughts on what happened and where this story is heading.

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Monday, September 7, 2009
It’s September--Do you know where your Akaka Bill is?
By Andrew Walden @ 3:26 AM :: 12123 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics

Since the June 11 House Committee on Natural Resources hearing on HR 2314, the Akaka Bill has been the subject of an intense battle--largely un-reported in the pages of the Honolulu Advertiser and Star-Bulletin, even as the various players battle it out with op-eds.  The August 6 hearing of the US Senate Indian Affairs Committee showed no progress in resolving the dispute. 

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Sunday, September 6, 2009
Lingle on recovery: Politicians don’t stop and consider the ramifications
By Gov. Linda Lingle @ 1:03 PM :: 8397 Views :: Energy, Environment

...because we have been suffering an economic decline over the past at least year-and-a-half, two years, it gives us an opportunity to prioritize our actions....  It means to put what’s most important first. And then what’s second important next, and don’t get these things mixed up....  It also gives us the chance to reflect on the fact that our actions have consequences.

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Saturday, September 5, 2009
International Women's Leadership Conference Honolulu Sept. 22
By News Release @ 10:23 PM :: 13352 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics, World News, Family

Register today and join over 1,000 of Hawai`i's women from fields of business, marketing, media, health care, government, international relations, and community service at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel and Resort September 22, 2009.

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Thursday, September 3, 2009
Report points to high fatality rate on Hawaii rural roads
By News Release @ 9:55 PM :: 5829 Views :: Energy, Environment

Driving on roads in need of repair costs each Hawaii motorist an average of $503 annually -- $431 million state-wide and the third highest in the nation -- in the form of accelerated vehicle depreciation, additional repair costs, and increased fuel consumption and tire wear.

The report also finds a total of 43 percent of Hawaii’s bridges are deficient or obsolete. Twelve percent of the state’s bridges are structurally deficient and an additional 31 percent are functionally obsolete. In addition to deteriorated road and bridge conditions, 45 percent of Hawaii’s major roads are considered congested.

And according to the TRIP report, the fatality rate on Hawaii’s rural roads is nearly four times greater than the fatality rate on all other roads in the state.

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Thursday, September 3, 2009
FULL TEXT: Governor Lingle's Internet Address on Budget, Negotiations
By News Release @ 12:58 AM :: 7007 Views :: Energy, Environment

Last week I thought we were close to reaching an agreement, but unfortunately, this was not the case. The HGEA’s current official offer amounts to a pay increase that would make our budget deficit worse.  Because of the way in which the public employee unions are structured, their rank-and-file members have not had a chance to hear about the State’s latest proposal. This is not right, because it is their livelihood that is at stake.

Most disheartening to me is the implication that union leaders would rather have members lose their jobs instead of having all their members share the sacrifice of furloughs.  Because of the setback in our negotiations, the State is preparing to proceed with binding arbitration with the white collar HGEA beginning tomorrow. The State will also start binding arbitration with the blue collar UPW, one week later....

Today I want to tell you that there will likely be additional layoff notices issued in the months ahead. The second round of layoffs will, by necessity, require a fundamental restructuring of State government. I wish this was not the case, but it is....

... we will roll back public assistance benefit increases... consolidate common administrative functions performed in each of our departments ... we will selectively begin eliminating some State programs that we could afford when times were good....

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Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Kawamura Hits "inaccuracies" on State's $1B ARS
By News Release @ 5:47 PM :: 6862 Views :: Energy, Environment

The Advertiser’s Aug. 30 article on the State’s investments in auction rate securities (ARS) contained several inaccuracies, including misleading statements by Legislative Auditor Marion Higa and Rep. Karl Rhoads. 

The State has not incurred any actual or real losses by investing in auction rate securities, and in fact we have been receiving the full principal and interest due on the ARS for the past 18 months. 

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Tuesday, September 1, 2009
HGEA Negotiator rips Speaker Say, Legislators: "Finger pointing, hands-off attitude"
By Letters to the Editor @ 8:38 PM :: 7911 Views :: Energy, Environment

Mr. Say's comment to the unions, the governor and the county mayors, "Let us all work together and try to stop the bleeding" is pure shibai. I pose to him: What are he and the other legislative leaders doing to help our state fiscal situation?

The unions have all along said public employees are willing to "share in the pain" -- so why aren't our elected leaders doing their part to help the state's budget shortfall by exploring other options now, such as tapping special funds or early retirement legislation?

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Tuesday, September 1, 2009
DoE failure costs Hawaii $1.6 Billion every year
By News Release @ 1:51 PM :: 8946 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics

If the students who dropped out of Hawaii’s Class of 2009 had graduated, the state’s economy would have benefited from more than $1.6 billion in additional income over the course of their lifetimes, according to a new issue brief from the Alliance for Excellent Education.

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Monday, August 31, 2009
SPLC: Prejudice in Paradise, Hawaii Has a Racism Problem
By Selected News Articles @ 6:31 PM :: 13606 Views :: Energy, Environment

With no known hate groups and a much-trumpeted spirit of aloha or tolerance, few people outside Hawaii realize the state has a racism issue. One reason: The tourism-dependent state barely acknowledges hate crimes.  Hawaii has collected hate crimes data since 2002 (most states began doing so a decade earlier). In the first six years, the state reported only 12 hate crimes, and half of those were in 2006. (All other things being equal, the state would be expected to have more than 800 such crimes annually, given the size of its population, according to a federal government study of hate crimes.)

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Monday, August 31, 2009
Ewa Beach: Honolulu City funds used to help sex offender's home promote Legislative candidate
By News Release @ 3:47 PM :: 12895 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment

Why did the city choose Makana O Kea Kua as the non-profit in charge of taking donations for the City’s Sunset on the Plains.  Makana O Kea Kua has a clean and sober home for convicts on 91-031 HAILIPO Street.  Residents complain that it housed sexual offenders.  Why was a political campaign allowed to be a sponsor and promoted through sunset on the plain using city taxpayer money?

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Sunday, August 30, 2009
Follow the Money: From Barack Obama to Hawaii's frozen Billion
By Andrew Walden @ 2:46 PM :: 10488 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics

But we now know that many of the senators who protected Fannie and Freddie, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Christopher Dodd, have received mind-boggling levels of financial support from them over the years.

Throughout his political career, Obama has gotten more than $125,000 in campaign contributions from employees and political action committees of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, second only to Dodd, the Senate Banking Committee chairman, who received more than $165,000.

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Friday, August 28, 2009
State begins to identify additional spending reductions
By News Release @ 7:52 PM :: 6826 Views :: Energy, Environment

“In light of the additional $98 million revenue shortfall projected by the Council on Revenues yesterday and the unacceptable and unrealistic position taken by the Hawai‘i Government Employees Association on our Administration’s latest offer, we must take the difficult step of identifying additional spending cuts, including a possible further reduction in force,” said Governor Lingle. 

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Thursday, August 27, 2009
Candidate Carlisle quits GOP
By Andrew Walden @ 7:40 PM :: 14258 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment

Multiple sources within the Hawaii Republican Party report Honolulu County Prosecutor Peter Carlisle has resigned his Party membership.  The sources report that Carlisle sent a short letter to Hawaii GOP HQ with his resignation late last week. 

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Thursday, August 27, 2009
Lingle: Council on Revenues reduced forecast shows "realities of our current budget situation"
By News Release @ 7:32 PM :: 6325 Views :: Energy, Environment

“The Council on Revenues’ lower revenue projection is in line with what our Administration has been anticipating.  That is why we have been taking steps to reduce government expenses and streamline operations.  The fact that the Council on Revenues has lowered its revenue projection for the seventh time since March 2008 is another reminder that we simply cannot afford to operate state government at the current level of spending...."

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Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

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Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

Investigative Project on Terrorism

July 4 in Hawaii

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Keep Hawaii's Heroes

Land and Power in Hawaii

Legislative Committee Analysis Tool

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

Malama Pregnancy Center of Maui

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Military Home Educators' Network Oahu

Missile Defense Advocacy

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Natatorium.org

National Christian Foundation Hawaii

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No GMO Means No Aloha

Not Dead Yet, Hawaii

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Oahu Alternative Transport

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OurFutureHawaii.com

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

PEACE Hawaii

People vs Machine

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

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RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

ReRoute the Rail

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

Robotics Organizing Committee

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Sink the Jones Act

Statehood for Guam

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

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UCC Truths

US Tax Foundation Hawaii Info

VAREP Honolulu

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii

Yes2TMT