Entries for February 2014

The council consists of 10 governors appointed by the President to focus on matters of national security, homeland defense, synchronization and integration of state and military activities in the United States and matters of mutual interest pertaining to the National Guard....

Our projections for 2014 growth have been marked down....

...up until Thursday, the subsidies were only available to consumers who purchased health insurance through the Affordable Care Act's exchanges....

FACE said the increase is needed because Hawaii’s utilities are 110 percent higher than the national average, housing is 104 percent higher and groceries are 57 percent higher than other states...

...individuals have declined to bake cakes or take photos for same-sex wedding ceremonies—and government has punished them....

Average characteristic of an area over the entire 5-year time period.  Data is based on a survey....

With anemic enrollment by individuals and little interest among small-business employers, the state’s nonprofit exchange -- known as the Hawaii Health Connector -- is unlikely to have enough money to pay its bills....

Total expenditures by visitors who came to Hawai‘i in January 2014 dropped 4.7 percent (or $68 million)....

“In addition, we are moving forward with securing a facilitator to get the Joint Fact Finding Group for the Environmental Public Health Impact Study underway,” the mayor added....

Yesterday, Dr. Don Huber spoke on Maui as part of an event that kicked off a political campaign to ban genetically engineered crops from the island....

...Congressman Charles Djou will weigh his options and decide whether to enter the race next week....

Ahu describes his campaign as one that he hopes will draw together the hearts and spirits of all who want to restore Hawaii’s values....

Many education experts have concluded that beginning a child's formal education too early may actually result in burnout and poor scholastic performance later....

...like Pono Choices, there is a disproportionate focus on normalizing homosexuality....

Since its inception in 1998, the Board has reviewed more than 600 proposed rules and provided advice to state and county agencies....

Ten years after he died in a 2004 firefight in Iraq, Sgt. Rafael Peralta's death continues to ignite controversy....

...Continuing the Connector as a state-based marketplace (SBM) is necessary in order to preserve the Prepaid Healthcare Act....

Professional development programs in the field of education have very little scientific support....

“The tax code stables in Washington haven’t been cleaned out since 1986.” And it shows....

Hawaii’s political and military leaders are worried proposed cuts to the military will affect the state’s economy and national security....

...union membership rate for the state was at the series high of 29.9 percent in 1989, and at the series low of 21.5 percent in 2011....

"Aloha!" highlights the ways in which Obamacare is harming American families....

Groceries in Honolulu cost 55.6% more than the national average; utilities 67.9% more....

Matson is increasing its already high shipping rates yet again....

Not only will the soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, and their families be legally invisible, they might be really gone as well....

...although some funds have been repealed or are no longer active, their appropriation accounts have not been closed and balances remain....

Hawaii Health Connector had refused even to allow the state auditor to conduct a review required under state law....

I have never seen grassroots energy like I am seeing today ....

Hawaii's ranking went from #14 to #21. This drop had more to do with the aggressive changes made in other states than with any steps backward in Hawaii....

With SB 2609 moving in Senate, Grassroot Institute says it will fail in its objectives....

...Abercrombie today announced the release of more than $62.4 million for capital improvement projects (CIP) that will improve various Hawaii Department of Education (DOE) facilities....

...DBEDT economists slightly reduced the projected growth rate due to continued modest tourism growth but identified potential in construction....

NAVFAC and other federal agencies have issued more than 200 similar surveys requesting information about the potential use of PLAs on specific construction projects....

If President Obama—or anyone else—is expecting that Medicaid will be Obamacare’s salvation, look elsewhere....

“Government wants a coordinator for all of life’s risks,” Slom said. “Taxpayers should not fall for more bureaucracy.”....

The sequence of events seems to go like this: Elected officials – in this case our Governor – are treated to a persuasive sales pitch and sign off prematurely on a “bold new concept.”....

Gun Bill Hearing Tuesday, February 25, 2014, 9:25 am, Rm 211, State Capitol....

SB 3122 SD1 exempts OHA, now owner of several Kakaako Makai parcels, from the prohibition of residential development on land makai of Ala Moana Boulevard....

The poll further illustrates the high unfavorability ratings of Hawaii’s current administration....

"...I flew to Hawaii recently to shoot a film, fresh on the heels of being labeled a homophobic bigot by Andrew Sullivan, Anderson Cooper, and others in the Gay Department of Justice...."

The leader of the free world has been largely invisible as Ukrainian demonstrators are ruthlessly picked off by government snipers....

Even more interesting, the breakdown on Djou’s support is completely inverted from the traditional Republican pattern....

....we’ve welcome hundreds of new members, many new district and precinct leaders, and candidates all over the state. The latest polls show that Republicans can win this year....

Among the proposals being considered are a low-income credit; a food and excise tax credit; a low-income household renters’ credit; an earned income tax credit; and a special tax credit for seniors....