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Entries for February 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011 |
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Seven House Races decided Civil Unions
By Andrew Walden @ 6:55 PM :: 6277 Views :: Energy, Environment
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On February 11, the Hawaii State House voted 31-19 in favor of SB232 Civil Unions. But the result was a lot closer than it would seem. If the following seven races had been won by civil unions opponents, and all other State Reps voted as they did in the House on February 11, SB232 Civil Unions would have failed in the House by a vote of 25-26....
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Thursday, February 17, 2011 |
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NRA: Hawaii Anti-Gun Bills Await House Committee Action
By News Release @ 4:56 PM :: 6411 Views :: Energy, Environment
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Please contact your state Representative and urge him or her to OPPOSE HB 441 and HB 834.
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Thursday, February 17, 2011 |
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Hanabusa, Hirono silent as E-W Center Funding Cut by Congress
By News Release @ 4:49 PM :: 7985 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics
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"Colleen Hanabusa and Mazie Hirono are simply two of the most ineffective members of congress in our nation today. Not only did the two of them fail to stop an amendment eliminating federal funding of the East West Center, even worse, the two of them didn't even bother to show up for work and defend the center on the House floor during debate."
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Thursday, February 17, 2011 |
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Pay-for-Play Contractor top donor to Abercrombie Inaugural
By AtomicMonkey @ 11:07 AM :: 7286 Views :: Energy, Environment
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Mitsunaga and Assoc. gave $30,000 to fund Abercrombie’s Inaugural Ball—the top donor.
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Wednesday, February 16, 2011 |
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VIDEO: Instant Runoff? “I thought every vote counts”
By Video @ 9:14 PM :: 7949 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics
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Oakland, CA voters testify against so-called "Instant Runoff" system now being proposed for Honolulu.
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Wednesday, February 16, 2011 |
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High Risk: List of Missed Obamacare Deadlines Grows
By Heritage Foundation @ 8:56 PM :: 4167 Views :: National News, Ethics
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First, HHS missed the deadline mandated by the new law to create high-risk pools for those who could not obtain health insurance due to chronic illness. Next, it didn’t create the two task forces on improving access to health care in Alaska and breast cancer education on time. The list doesn’t end there....
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Wednesday, February 16, 2011 |
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VIDEO: House GOP Floor speeches Feb 15-16
By Video @ 8:47 PM :: 5406 Views :: Energy, Environment
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HB1346: Requires new televisions manufactured on or after 7/1/12, with a viewable screen area of 1,400 square inches or less and sold in the State to meet ENERGY STAR efficiency specifications.
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Wednesday, February 16, 2011 |
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How they voted: Civil Unions passes Senate 18-5
By Andrew Walden @ 8:10 PM :: 5889 Views :: Energy, Environment
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The Hawaii State Senate today passed SB 232 as amended by the House. The bill creates a new family structure called ‘civil unions’ which will be treated as equivalent to marriage.
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Wednesday, February 16, 2011 |
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Lambda Legal to drop lawsuit filed after defeat of HB444
By News Release @ 8:09 PM :: 5651 Views :: Energy, Environment
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Lambda Legal and the ACLU filed a lawsuit in July, 2010 after then-Governor Linda Lingle vetoed HB 444, the previous civil unions bill. The remedy requested in that suit will be provided by this bill, meaning there will be no need for the lawsuit to continue.
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Wednesday, February 16, 2011 |
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YAF: Ron Paul “Blames America for 9-11”
By News Release @ 3:18 PM :: 8000 Views :: National News, Ethics
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“Rep. Paul has strayed to the left of Obama and allied himself with the radical anti-war left by laying the blame on America for the unprovoked attacks of Sept. 11th. Additionally, Rep. Paul has not condemned the 9/11 "Truther" conspiracy theorists that support him, and he has repeatedly insisted, that the United States not bring justice to those who have murdered thousands of our civilians and soldiers at home and abroad...."
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Wednesday, February 16, 2011 |
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Radcliffe: The game is up, I told you, and you are not ready
By Audio @ 1:17 PM :: 7477 Views :: Energy, Environment
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How long have I been telling you that the revenues to pay for government are inadequate to pay the cost of government?
It has been at least ten years. Ten years, I think. In that time, the economy has gone down, up, and down—but each down has been deeper and has taken a toll, and each up has not been enough to restore funding levels…as a result government has suffered… It is now a Potemkin Village — a shabby Potemkin Village.
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Tuesday, February 15, 2011 |
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Not Dead Yet: Different version of Soda Tax to be heard Wednesday
By News Release @ 5:19 PM :: 4819 Views
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The Senate Committee on Health on Monday voted to remove the non-alcoholic beverage tax from legislation that they voted on. This is an initial victory for families and consumers across Hawaii! However, the same committee will be debating a similar beverage tax proposal on Wednesday, February 16 at 2:45 p.m.
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Tuesday, February 15, 2011 |
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Obama Budget Doubles Down on Deficit Spending Failure
By Heritage Foundation @ 1:33 PM :: 4250 Views :: National News, Ethics
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... since 2001 federal education spending has already increased by 100 percent. And going back to 1970, it has almost tripled. And what have been the results of this federal “investment” in our future?
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Monday, February 14, 2011 |
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Assisted suicide: Death as a Salesman
By News Release @ 9:05 PM :: 5817 Views :: Energy, Environment
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The arguments surrounding this emotionally charged issue are varied and complex. Cutting through the rhetoric and euphemisms brings clarity to this issue both from an ethical and moral perspective. It is with this in mind that Hawaii Right to Life has partnered with KALO-TV, channel 38 (cable 25) to broadcast Death as a Salesman: what's wrong with assisted suicide ...
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Monday, February 14, 2011 |
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Hawaii Congressional Delegation: How they voted Feb 7-14
By Andrew Walden @ 8:50 PM :: 6944 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics
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- House: Patriot Act Extensions
- House: United Nations Tax Equalization Refund Act
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Monday, February 14, 2011 |
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VIDEO: House GOP Floor Speeches Feb 11-14
By Video @ 8:46 PM :: 5973 Views :: Energy, Environment
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- Representative Barbara Marumoto addresses concerns on HB1225, which would allow bingo.
- Rep. Gene Ward addresses Civil Unions on Chamber Floor
- Reps. Riviere and Ward on Tax Credits HB566
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Monday, February 14, 2011 |
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Obama’s 2012 Budget: Taxes, taxes, and more taxes—and more spending too
By Americans for Tax Reform @ 2:52 PM :: 6303 Views :: National News, Ethics
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Add it all together, and this budget is a ten-year, $1.5 trillion tax hike over present law.
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Monday, February 14, 2011 |
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On Valentines Day, Share the Word About the Benefits of Marriage
By Heritage Foundation @ 1:38 PM :: 3932 Views :: National News, Ethics
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Rather than continue a cycle of dependence with streams of anonymous government checks, policymakers can take steps to remove disincentives to marriage and demonstrate how healthy marital relationships can lead to self-sufficiency.
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Monday, February 14, 2011 |
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Wolfson: Push past civil union to gay marriage
By News Release @ 10:33 AM :: 7433 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics
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"As soon as the governor signs the final bill, Hawaii should move swiftly to finish the job by ending exclusion from marriage itself..." --Evan Wolfson, co-counsel in 1993 gay marriage case, Baehr v. Miike
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Monday, February 14, 2011 |
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Pensions, Rail, Earmarks: Abercrombie and Obama wage war on Inouye
By Andrew Walden @ 12:30 AM :: 11303 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment
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Just two months into his term, Neil Abercrombie has led Hawaii politics into chaos. From the White House to Honolulu Hale, progressive Democrats are duking it out with the old boys.
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Sunday, February 13, 2011 |
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Report: Lottery remains a poor bet for education funding
By Selected News Articles @ 9:35 PM :: 8365 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics
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"A study of 11 other state education lotteries showed that states are likely to decrease their growth of spending for education upon operating a lottery designated for that purpose."
"This decrease occurs regardless of the revenue generated by the lottery," Sanders added. "Meanwhile, states without lotteries maintained and increased their education spending more than states with lotteries."
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Sunday, February 13, 2011 |
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Gaming Lobbyist describes much deeper involvement in selecting Abercrombie Cabinet
By Andrew Walden @ 6:21 PM :: 8824 Views :: Energy, Environment
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"I'll tell you this: We vetted him as carefully as anybody could be vetted and looked into his background, his family, his relationships," said John Radcliffe, a lobbyist who was part of the transition team that reviewed Abercrombie's Cabinet picks.
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Sunday, February 13, 2011 |
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A State-Recognized Indian Tribe for Hawaii?
By Andrew Walden @ 5:34 PM :: 9650 Views :: Akaka Bill
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HB1627 which would create a State-run Indian Tribe will be heard by the House Judiciary Committee Thursday February 17, 2011.
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Sunday, February 13, 2011 |
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Farmers send two tons of Kona Coffee to troops in Afghanistan, Iraq
By News Release @ 3:49 PM :: 11385 Views :: Hawaii County , Akaka Bill, National News, Ethics, World News, Family
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During 2010 most Kona coffee went to Afghanistan , where it was very highly welcomed and appreciated. Some also went to the P.I. and now here at the end of the year I am once again sending Kona coffee to the 25th Infantry Division folks who have recently deployed to Camp Liberty, Iraq.
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Sunday, February 13, 2011 |
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Sunday, February 13, 2011 |
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West Maui Taxpayers Association to hold Annual Meeting
By News Release @ 3:35 PM :: 7662 Views :: Kauai County, DHHL
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Mayor Alan Arakawa will be attending and will make opening remarks, as well as speaking about his plans for West Maui....
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Sunday, February 13, 2011 |
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Human Trafficking Bills to be Heard Tuesday
By News Release @ 3:30 PM :: 6149 Views :: Energy, Environment
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Labor-Trafficking bill is SB960 with its identical House Companion HB577
Sex-Trafficking bill is SB959 with its identical House Companion HB576
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Sunday, February 13, 2011 |
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Supreme Court to hear Case: Do elected officials with Conflict of Interest have a right to vote?
By Robert Thomas @ 3:20 PM :: 6441 Views :: National News, Ethics
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The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide a case about whether state laws which require elected officials to recuse themselves from considering matters on which they appear to have conflicts of interest, impermissibly infringe upon the officials' First Amendment rights.
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Sunday, February 13, 2011 |
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New Study on Bag Taxes: Economically Destructive, Job-killing
By News Release @ 12:14 PM :: 6639 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics
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"We already knew that bag taxes are an annoying levy that provide no environmental benefit; now we also know that they are an economically destructive job killer thanks to this new report. Unfortunately it is also D.C.'s poorest communities that are hit hardest by the bag tax," said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.
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Saturday, February 12, 2011 |
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Honolulu Neighborhood Board Elections to be Cancelled?
By Andrew Walden @ 11:17 PM :: 12546 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12
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Hundreds of community activists and aspiring political leaders across Oahu are preparing for Neighborhood Board Elections in April and May to fill 439 seats on 33 Neighborhood Boards. February 18 is the last day to register to vote in the election and the last day for candidates to file nomination papers. But NCO Executive Assistant Bryan Mick and the Neighborhood Commission (NCO) have a surprise in store. On February 17, 2011 the Commission will be holding a “Special Meeting” to vote on a motion to cancel the election ....
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Saturday, February 12, 2011 |
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Saturday, February 12, 2011 |
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Saturday, February 12, 2011 |
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Hawaii Renewable Energy Mandates driving Utility Bills sky high?
By News Release @ 6:28 PM :: 9396 Views :: Hawaii County , Akaka Bill, Energy, Environment
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Multiple renewable energy projects are in rapid development on every island, and plans include $multi-billion inter-island undersea transmission cables.
But if this is all supposed to feel so good, how come our electricity costs are going up up up and it feels so bad?
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Saturday, February 12, 2011 |
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SB1449 Hearing Saturday: Hawaii Sunset Advisory Commission to assess Government Agencies
By Grassroot Institute @ 1:33 AM :: 6957 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment
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The committee(s) on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs has rescheduled its public hearing to Saturday, 2-12-2011 at 10 a.m. in conference room 229.
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Saturday, February 12, 2011 |
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Rep Ward, Sen Slom invite public to speak out on pension tax, other issues
By News Release @ 1:27 AM :: 7200 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment
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- WHAT: Legislative Townhall Meeting
- WHERE: Haha‘ione Elementary School Cafeteria
- WHEN: Tuesday, February 15, 2011 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
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Friday, February 11, 2011 |
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How They Voted: Civil Unions passes House 31-19
By Hawaii Family Forum @ 9:59 PM :: 6300 Views :: Energy, Environment
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Today, SB 232 HD1, Relating to Civil Unions, passed the House by a vote of 31-19 (with one excused - Rep. Cabanilla). That means that the bill will now go back to the Senate for reconsideration. It is expected that the Senate may accept the changes made by the House Judiciary. If that happens, the bill could end up on Governor Abercrombie’s desk for signature as early as next week. The Governor has publicly stated he would sign the bill.
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Friday, February 11, 2011 |
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Censorship: Courts would strike down unconstitutional Hawaii 3rd Party liability law
By News Release @ 2:48 PM :: 5310 Views :: Energy, Environment
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AAP’s Freedom to Read director Judy Platt said: “The approach taken by this legislation would have a profound and unacceptable chilling effect not only on AAP members who publish travel guides, but on the robust free marketplace of ideas that the First Amendment is intended to protect. The courts have simply not allowed this to happen, and the Hawaii legislature needs to be reminded of that.”
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Friday, February 11, 2011 |
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Mubarak Out, Muslim Brotherhood Remains Primed
By IPT News @ 2:29 PM :: 5616 Views :: World News, Family
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The future role of the Muslim Brotherhood remains uncertain. The Brotherhood, a fundamentalist Sunni movement, seeks to spread Islamic law throughout the world. Its members have indicated a desire to revoke Egypt's peace treaty with Israel and increase support for Hamas and other terrorist groups.
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Friday, February 11, 2011 |
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Beverage tax vote scheduled Monday in Hawaii Senate Health Committee
By News Release @ 2:23 PM :: 5802 Views :: Energy, Environment
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The Senate Committee on Health heard testimony this week on a beverage tax and Senators heard loud and clear that beverage taxes are not popular. This Monday, the Committee will vote on one beverage tax proposal. Then on Wednesday, they will hold a hearing on another proposal that would tax beverages.
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Friday, February 11, 2011 |
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38.9%: Hawaii has most deviant Legislative Districts in Nation
By Selected News Articles @ 3:55 AM :: 10722 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics
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the commission drew new maps that eliminated most of the canoe districts. The end result was that Hawaii had the largest population deviations in the country. The deviations hit 38.9 percent for the Senate....
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Thursday, February 10, 2011 |
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SB 232 Civil Unions to be voted in House Friday
By Hawaii Family Forum @ 7:00 PM :: 6167 Views :: Energy, Environment
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If SB 232 SD1 HD1 (civil unions) passes the House, it will then go over to the Senate and they will have to agree to the changes. If they do not agree, the bill will go to a conference committee with members from both chambers so they can work out their differences. What you may not know, is only members who VOTED IN SUPPORT SB 232 can be appointed to the conference committee. In conference committee, no input from the public is accepted.
If the Senate agrees to the amendments, the bill could go straight to the Governor who has publicly stated he would sign the bill.
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Thursday, February 10, 2011 |
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Thursday, February 10, 2011 |
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Thursday, February 10, 2011 |
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Transparency: Regents Candidate Advisory Council Names Finalists for UH Board of Regents
By News Release @ 4:32 PM :: 13338 Views :: Hawaii County , Akaka Bill, Kauai County, DHHL, Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment
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HONOLULU – The Regents Candidate Advisory Council (RCAC) has presented a list of candidates to Gov. Neil Abercrombie to fill four seats on the University of Hawai’i Board of Regents, including two City and County of Honolulu seats, a Hawai’i County seat and a Maui County seat.
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Thursday, February 10, 2011 |
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What the Collapse of Marriage Means for Children
By Heritage Foundation @ 3:21 PM :: 5315 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics
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Thankfully, there are ways that individuals, community leaders, and policymakers can help alleviate childhood poverty. By encouraging marriage in low-income communities, teaching adolescents and young adults the economic and social benefits of marriage, and reducing policy disincentives to marriage, more children can avoid the pain of poverty.
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Thursday, February 10, 2011 |
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SB1425: Legislative Committee to discuss banning all Oahu Landfills
By Grassroot Institute @ 12:53 PM :: 6864 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment
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According to Senate Bill 1425, relating to banning the acceptance of solid waste in landfills, no landfill in a county with a population greater than or less than 500,000 residents, will be allowed to accept deliveries of municipal solid waste - beginning July 1, 2012, for Honolulu, and for the smaller counties, a date to be determined by their councils.
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Thursday, February 10, 2011 |
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HB12: Ag theft bill before Ag Committee Friday
By News Release @ 12:13 PM :: 5029 Views :: Energy, Environment
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HB12, a bill introduced by State Representative Cynthia Thielen (R, 50th District) which establishes monetary restitution to property owners who have been victimized by plant thefts, will be heard by the House Committee on Agriculture this Friday, Feb. 11, at 9 a.m. in Conference Room 312 at the State Capitol.
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Wednesday, February 9, 2011 |
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House GOP Caucus leads successful effort to Keep Prayer in Daily Sessions
By News Release @ 9:35 PM :: 5177 Views :: Energy, Environment
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The House Republican caucus has led the effort to keep invocations a part of the daily legislative sessions in the Hawai`i State House following the ending of the practice in the State Senate.
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Wednesday, February 9, 2011 |
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Abercrombie appoints Don Horner to BoE, plans to appoint Horner to New BoE
By News Release @ 4:32 PM :: 7613 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment
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In November 2010, Hawai‘i voters approved a Constitutional Amendment that gives the Governor the authority to appoint members of the BOE. Governor Abercrombie is encouraged that the State Legislature has been moving expeditiously to establish the appointment process for BOE members. When that legislative process is complete, Governor Abercrombie intends to name Horner among his first appointments.
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Wednesday, February 9, 2011 |
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US House to vote on blocking Obamacare funds, Senate Dems may revolt
By Selected News Articles @ 2:25 PM :: 3584 Views :: National News, Ethics
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The U.S. House of Representatives is likely to vote to block funding for President Barack Obama's signature healthcare overhaul when it takes up a budget plan next week, House Republican Leader Eric Cantor said on Tuesday.
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