Entries for September 2018

...​How High Are State and Local Tax Collections in Your State?....

...Friday, Sept. 28, from noon to 1 p.m....

...Senator Hirono says "I just want to say to the men of this country: Just shut up….”

...Hawaii’s governor signed a 100 percent mandate in 2015, making it the first state in the country to require its entire energy mix to originate from renewables. California passed a similar bill in August....

...Innovative approach that could reduce significantly the Hawaiian Homes waiting list...

...Weekly Update From GovTrack.org....

...The Committee marked up HR6730 Sept 13.  Next stop, House floor....

...When a couple of penny-stock touts, one of whom is listed in the Panama Papers Offshore Leaks Database, start selling timber futures and carbon credits in Hawaii, the greenwash is thicker than most....

...the City is giving the exemption to 342 homes and forgoing taxation on $600 million in property value, translating to a revenue loss exceeding $2 million....

...UH West Oʻahu climbed two spots to number 5 in Top Public Colleges West....

...Two public forums have been set to help educate voters....

...“Politics runs on money. Billions of dollars."....

...the average debt in Hawaii is a whopping $869,250....

...Finally politicians are doing something about affordable housing--they're demolishing it....

What’s in a title? If you’re a member of the Hawaii Legislature, opportunity....

...In Hawaii 124 of the state’s 133 dams are deemed ‘at High Hazard Potential’ by the National Inventory of Dams....

...We advise that section 134-9, HRS, does not limit the issuance of unconcealed-carry licenses to individuals whose jobs entail protecting life and property....

...Hawaii has the nation’s worst property rights record followed closely by California....

...a formal contested case hearing on the Further Statement of Alleged Violation will be held before the Commission on Monday, October 22, 2018....

...For FY 2019, cumulative collections of the GET are up by 0.4% from last fiscal year....

...Hawaii’s sales tax base is broader than economists recommend, applying not just to final consumer products and services, but also to many business-to-business transactions. This results in multiple layers of taxation on the same product or service....

...Applicants Sought to Fill Vacancy on the Disciplinary Board of the Hawaii Supreme Court and Applicants Sought for Board of Bar Examiners....

...ABOUT 110 MI SW OF HONOLULU -- PRESENT MOVEMENT...WSW AT 20 MPH....

...The land was zoned for single-family residences, but the County of Maui decided it should be used as a public park. Instead of buying the land, however, the County wielded its regulatory authority to prevent the Leones from developing their property in any way....

...in 1969 the only places in America where housing cost more than three times incomes were Hawaii and Stamford, Connecticut. I don’t know why Stamford was on the list, but Hawaii had passed legislation strictly regulating where people could build homes in 1961....

... ripping a “hole in the fabric of reality” ....

...Stanley Lau who is the chair of the Affordable Coalition PAC which was formed to oppose the passage in the upcoming General Election of a constitutional amendment authorizing the State to tax investment property....

...Resolution 666-18 would allow the County to enter into an agreement with the State of Hawai‘i to retain the legal services of Mr. Neal Katyal as special counsel, with the State to pay all fees and costs....

...Hawaii ranks as happiest state despite least sleep, study finds....

...These days, our General Excise Tax (GET) contains exemptions and reduced rates that are supposed to reflect commercial reality but often contain leaps of faith....

...This weekend was spent planting the new fields....

...Now that the U.S. Supreme Court's Janus v. AFSCME ruling has had time to settle, what’s next?....

...the connection between charges for campaign finance violations brought against Congressman Duncan D. Hunter (R-CA-50), and his support for and campaign contributions from the Jones Act industry....

...Hawaii ranks 41st collecting $76 per capita....

...The best laid plans, we are told, often go awry ... “Especially when it comes to politicians counting on revenue from tax hikes.”....

... Hawaii ranks 27th ....

...This year, on the November 6th ballot, you will have two questions asked of you....

...Estimated prevalence rates of food insecurity during this 3-year period ranged from 7.4 percent in Hawaii to 17.9 percent in New Mexico; estimated prevalence rates of very low food security ranged from 2.9 percent in Hawaii to 7.1 percent in Alabama and Louisiana....

...After months of delay, OHA and its LLCs will be audited for fraud, waste and abuse....

...Will Justice Brett Kavanaugh become the ‘critical’ 8th vote against racially discriminatory OHA elections?  Could Kavanaugh become the ‘decisive’ 10th vote against the Hawaii Supreme Court’s Ceded Lands Decision.  Or maybe Hirono is afraid Kavanaugh will be the fifth vote against Nai Aupuni....

...Watchdog Groups Use Sharp Knife of Litigation to Curb “Gut and Replace” Tactics, Restore Public Voice in Democracy....

...After amended complaints were filed, the state Office of Elections said the ballot will not have a title....

...Support legislation for disclosure for private property and public offerings located in areas with potential exposure to sea level rise....

...A Grassroot Institute FOIA request reveals that 320 employees spiked their salaries ahead of retiring....

...Pearl City also has the 2nd lowest divorce rate and the 3rd-lowest percentage of families in poverty....  

...“I cannot count how many homeowners told me that their insurance agents told them to not worry about their lava exclusion, because everyone knows that fires burn houses during an eruption”....

...according to The Chronicle of Higher Education’s 2018 Almanac diversity rankings....

...Hawaii ranks #19 overall, #27 for wage policies, #16 for worker protection policies; and #1 for right to organize....

...on August 11, of 286,041 ballots submitted, 41.3% were left blank in the race for the OHA Trustee Oahu seats, and 49.6% were left blank in the race for the OHA Trustee At-large seat....

...GovTrack Update for Sep. 1....