Entries for 'News Release'

Judge McKenna, 53, has been serving in First Circuit Court since 1995 and currently serves as the Senior Judge of the Family Court.

While Hawaii reported total assets of $19.6 billion, the Institute’s review of the state’s 2009 financial report revealed that there are $11.9 billion of off-balance sheet retirement liabilities. More than $15.6 billion of the State’s assets cannot be easily converted to cash to pay State bills of $22.2 billion as they come due. These assets consist of capital assets, including infrastructure, buildings and land, and assets the use of which is restricted by law or contract. The State does not have the funds needed to pay for almost $18.2 billion of state obligations.

Dr. Ahu Isa, an assistant professor at Hawaii Pacific University and former state representative, decided to resign to allow Governor Neil Abercrombie to fill her vacancy by making his first Board appointment. Last year, voters approved a constitutional amendment that ended Board elections and gave the governor the authority to appoint members. The state Legislature is crafting a new law specifying the appointment process.

Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act - Vote Passed (245-189, 1 Not Voting)

The House voted to repeal the 2010 health care law. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has vowed to block the bill in the Senate.

Rep. Marumoto wants to keep passengers of all ages from riding in pickup truck beds (HB 15).  Several years ago she was successful in restricting those under 13 from riding in truck beds.  This year she will once again attempt to extend that ban to Oahu riders (counties over 300,000 population). 

• I will be filing a bill to modernize the terms of our employee retirement system....
• I am proposing that we end the current practice of state funded reimbursement for federal Medicare Part B benefits for Hawaii government employees.
• The other fix is to implement the recommendation of the Tax Review Commission to treat pension income like all other income for tax purposes....
• I am proposing what is an overdue increase in the alcohol tax and will also propose a fee on soda and similar drinks.
• ...bringing the impact fees paid by the increasing number of timeshare occupants into alignment with hotel room occupants who pay the transient accommodations tax.
• I will also reallocate funds from the Hawaii Tourism Authority to basic government services such as environmental protection, improvements to public facilities, and advancing culture and the arts. The amount we are spending in the name of marketing Hawaii has grown disproportionate to the amount we need to spend on Hawaii’s own infrastructure....

The State of Hawaii reported liabilities of only $10.2 billion. IFTA’s detailed analysis discovered that retirement liabilities of $11.9 billion were unreported by the State. When these liabilities are included, the State’s bills total $22.1 billion.

A multitude of special funds (see list below) are slated to be on the chopping block with the introduction yesterday of Hawaii Senate Bill SB120, to repeal certain special funds and transfer balances to the state general fund.

Speaker of the House Calvin Say today announced the House of Representatives leadership team and the Committee chairmanships for the 26th Legislature.

Alexander will be the lead person on Governor Abercrombie’s efforts to end homelessness. Alexander will work with state and federal agencies, community programs and foundations, and the business community to find opportunities and solutions to address homelessness collaboratively.

Today marks a very critical juncture in our state’s history.  We have a $800 million state deficit to fill, jobs to create, and an economy to turn around and a new system of educational governance to establish.   It is going to be a busy and intense session, but I am confident, optimistic and quite positive – if we work together, it will be a very good session.

“Now that the House has organized and the official start of the legislative session has begun it is imperative that District 45 have representation,” said Governor Abercrombie. 

“The Spending Reduction Act gives us a $2.5 trillion head start in the race to preserve the fiscal stability of the United States,” said Garrett.  “This bill represents the first step in the process, not the last.  To achieve long-term fiscal stability, we must finish the race by making the tough decisions Congress has put off for far too long.  Only after we tear down barriers to job creation and make reforms to our entitlement programs can we truly resolve our debt crisis.”

Hawaii's law still needs significant improvement in several areas, including completely removing its caps, strengthening the requirements for both charter application, review and decision-making processes and renewal, non-renewal, and revocation processes, and ensuring equitable operational and categorical funding and equitable access to capital funding and facilities.

Honolulu – Governor Neil Abercrombie today announced that applications are being accepted for service on the numerous boards and commissions – including the Board of Education – via his website....

The residents of the State of Hawai`i have called on the House Republican caucus (HRC) to ensure their taxes are not raised, control government spending, maintain fiscal discipline, increase government accountability, reduce the size and scope of government, stimulate and accelerate student learning and create an economic environment that will help local businesses thrive, create jobs and attract international investments.

It is my understanding that there is a move in Honolulu to introduce IRV/RCV (ranked choice voting). I would suggest the Council not adopt IRV elections as it does not have the results intended. It will not result in a majority victor. There are many problems with ranked choice voting. At one time, I was a supporter of ranked choice voting but no more.

I was born and raised on the Island and still have many relatives on the Island. As someone from Honolulu, I would not want to subject them to instant runoff voting.

The Hawaii session convenes this coming Wednesday, January 19th, 2011.  The change of policy is part of a new rules package the Senate will consider for the opening session. 

Senate President Shan Tsutsui (D, Kahului) will recommend that the Senate end the tradition of invocations based on the ACLU complaint.

The Republican Caucus today announced it is moving forward with committee assignments regardless of the Minority Democrats dispute with Speaker Say. The committee lineup highlights the strengths of each of its eight members, including the three Republican freshmen who will bring a wealth of experience to their subject committees.

Obamacare is one of the largest tax increases in American history.  Below is a comprehensive list of the two dozen new or higher taxes that pay for Obamcare’s expansion of government spending and interference between doctors and patients.

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today that a federal grand jury in Honolulu has returned a 10-count superseding indictment charging defendants Joseph Knoller and Bruce Schwartz, both of Los Angeles, as co-conspirators in a scheme to hold 400 Thai nationals in compelled service as agricultural workers in the District of Hawaii and elsewhere.

Since the majority of the Hawaii Senate Democratic Caucus has gone brain-dead on the subject of religious invocations before Senate sessions, here is a taste of reality from their lord and master, the world’s highest-ranking Manoa liberal, Barack Obama....

Honolulu –  Four more positions within the Administration were appointed by Governor Neil Abercrombie.  These positions include the Director of Office of Youth Services, the Executive Director of the Office of Aging, the Deputy Tax Director, and the Deputy for the Department for Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA).

The museum will reveal the techniques it uses to preserve and protect objects in the 1821 Mission House, the oldest documented house in Hawai‘i.

Honolulu – Governor Neil Abercrombie today announced the appointment of Gilbert Kahele to represent Senate District 2.  Kahele fills the seat left vacant by Department of Agriculture Interim Director Russell Kokubun.

Honolulu, Hawaii – John R. Lott, Jr., author, activist, speaker and professor at the University of Maryland, College Park, will be in town speaking on the topics of gun control, public policy and other points of interest at a dinner hosted at The Plaza Club Tuesday, February 15th, 2011 starting at from 6:30 p.m.

• House: Health Care Repeal Rule
• House: Reducing the amount authorized for salaries and expenses

Honolulu – Representative Barbara Marumoto submitted the following bills for inclusion in the Women’s Caucus Legislative Package.

UHPA: After a series of meetings with Governor Abercrombie, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed on December 23rd, 2010 that increased the employer’s contribution to 60% of the premium costs for the coverage selected by individual public employees.

Currently in active negotiations with landowners on Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island, HILT expects to announce thousands more conservation acres within the first quarter of 2011. The Hawaiian Islands Land Trust central office is based initially on Maui.

At Americans for Prosperity, we're asking you to join us once again as we fight three key public policy battles during the coming year....

Honolulu, HI — Congressman Charles K. Djou (HI-01) personally congratulated selected nominees for respective United States Service Academies at the Prince Kuhio Federal Building today.  The following individuals will be nominated by Congressman Charles Djou of Hawaii’s First Congressional District:

Representative Gene Ward (R-Hawaii Kai – Kalama Valley) tonight expressed cautious optimism about the State of Hawai'i’s economic future today following the Council on Revenues' announcement of a projected $44 million increase in general-fund revenues for this fiscal year.

Rather than create wealth, crony moguls form a coalition with political officials to plunder wealth from taxpayers and other citizens.

December 28, 2010 ---(Honolulu, Hawaii) The funeral service for retired federal Judge Samuel Pailthorpe King will be held tomorrow at St. Andrews’s Cathedral. A gathering will begin at 1:30pm, followed by the service at 2:30pm with the Order of Kamehameha entering the Cathedral on Beretania and Queen Emma/Alakea St.

Wendy Clerinx, of Hilo, serves as Policy Director, Tammi Oyadomari-Chun and Michael Ng as Policy Analysts and Debbie Shimizu as Legislative Liaison.

The 111th Congress adjourned sine die on Wednesday, December 22, 2010. The first session of the 112th Congress is scheduled for Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 12 p.m.

HONOLULU - Governor Neil Abercrombie today announced two appointments to the State Senate:  Rep. Maile Shimabukuro to represent Senate District 21, and Malama Solomon, Ph.D., to represent Senate District 1.

When I arrived, Dudley was just leaving and Espero told me what happened. As I was picking up and replacing my signs as well as Ms. Martinez's signs...Dudley drove by pointing and laughing like a mad man as he drove back up towards his home in Makakilo. It was really disconcerting.... It seems that Dudely also cursed out Espero's elderly grandfather while they were sign waiving near one another too.

Governor Neil Abercrombie today submitted the initial version of the state’s budget with a call to legislators, businesses, nonprofits and all community members to work collaboratively throughout the legislative process to address fiscal challenges and accelerate the state’s economic recovery.

• Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010
• Cloture Motion; DREAM Act
• Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010

The 35th annual Smart Business Hawaii (SBH) Business and Investment conference will be held Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at Honolulu’s Ala Moana Hotel from 7am to 2pm.

The following are some of the laws (those most likely to impact the general public) slated to take effect on January 1, 2011. Click on the bills to get more information.

Honolulu, Dec 19- Governor Neil Abercrombie today announced the appointment of David M. Louie as Attorney General.