Environment

... the state Department of Health violated the federal Clean Air Act in granting a permit to operate to Hu Honua ....

• Senate: Veterans Job Training – Motion to Waive
• Senate: Foreign Aid Suspension
• Senate: Iran Nuclear Threat
• Senate: Continuing Resolution
• House: Student Loan Exemption for Deceased Veterans – Suspension
• House: Public Funding for Political Conventions – Suspension
• House: Welfare Work Requirements – Disapproval Resolution
• House: STEM Visa Program - Suspension
• House: Manhattan Project National Park – Suspension
• House: Energy Regulatory Rollback – Passage

We are on the same treacherous fiscal path as Greece, Italy and Spain....

Apparently there are some, including some of the commissioners on the Tax Review Commission, who believe that those unfunded liabilities that combined is estimated to be more than $20 billion must be addressed with increases in taxes....

...the goal was not only to improve efficiency and patient safety, but also to reduce health care costs.  But, in reality, the move to electronic health records may be contributing to billions of dollars in higher costs....

The PFM Group’s recommendations on ways to raise taxes are insulting....

...

Agriculture provides employment for a very small number of people and the people who work in agriculture earn less than workers in any other sector....

For Hirono to build her entire campaign on the coattails of Senator Inouye and President Obama underscores her lack of depth as a candidate for a promotion to higher office....

If Obama;'s 2013 budget is implemented, Hawaii will be obligated to pay $1,096,300,000 more for Medicaid....

federal enforcement authority will be exercised in Hawaii effective September 21, 2012....

Upon completion of all program requirements, participants’ savings are matched with $6400....

 The law does nothing more than deceive people into purchasing non-GE foods, which aren't different from GE foods....

We need to elect leaders who are more concerned about America than their political party and will put aside partisan differences to work together to solve our nation's problems. 

About 47 percent of the designated habitat is located on land belonging to the state, 11 percent is on federal lands, 9 percent is on city and county lands, while 33 percent on of the land privately owned.

...islanders, many of whom have persistent and serious health conditions, filed a class action against the state, alleging that the cut in benefits violated the equal-protection clause of the U.S. Constitution....

As a 4th generation farmer of Peterson’s Farm, Lauren will effectively serve as a voice for the agricultural community ....

Through her leadership and assistance State House Republicans were able to create, develop, and present a state budget proposal that would have balanced our state budget without raising taxes and/or fees!

According to Rodney Lau, DHHL administrative services officer, it’s been a common practice to transfer these interest revenues to the operating account every three months....

Areas under discussion include the length of time an EIS is valid, the exemption process, and cultural impacts....

It's only through your generosity and support that we have the funds to be able to discuss the important issues facing our country today, and the need to elect genuine leaders, like Charles, who have the courage and the character to address those issues.

"Widely regarded as the gold standard for accreditation, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges will now accredit all public schools in Hawaii." Hawaii private schools are also accredited by WASC. The same criteria will be used for both.

 Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and his Chinese counterpart, Defense Minister Gen. Liang Guanglie, told reporters here today they see progress and room for growth in the two nations’ military relationship....

OHA chairman Clayton Hee and Van Dyke's wife, Sherry Broder, met in August (1996) with the Washington lobbying firm of Patton Boggs, L.L.P., to seek assistance in passing federal legislation to recognize OHA as the Native Hawaiian government as well as to "quietly" explore casino gambling....

...she slipped and fell on uncleaned floor of the defendant’s fast food restaurant...$5,670,000....

Mazie Hirono says our Democrat supporters aren’t Democrat enough. Her partisan politics are shining through, and giving Hawaii a glimpse of the us-vs-them mentality she leads with....

Responsibility for some functions is not clearly specified in HRS 11. It is not clear that either jurisdiction has sufficient authority to resolve all the problems that surfaced in the Big Island primary election....

Abercrombie is pursuing an appeal of the injunction on Basic Health Hawai'i, with a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals hearing scheduled for Tuesday in San Francisco....  

Adult Obesity Rate in Hawaii Could Reach 51.8 Percent by 2030, According to New Study -- Related Health Care Costs Could Climb by 12.3 Percent....

"I attended meetings between Governor Lingle, the Board of Education and the Superintendent, and the Governor made it clear that her support for furloughs was conditioned on them not occurring on instructional days so that students wouldn't miss any school days," Smith added.

...this updated CBO estimate represents the first time that the Medicare payment reductions are accounted for in the full 10‐year budget window....

• House: Minnesota Land Exchange
• House: Government Surveillance Authorities
• House: Sequestration Replacement
• House: Continuing Resolution
• House: Energy Department Loan Guarantees

Mazie Hirono voted last week to keep in place $1.2 trillion in automatic budget cuts that will hurt Hawaii’s economy ....

Four Republicans endorsed by UPW...

"The provision ... has been applied in ... high-profile prosecutions such as the misdemeanor case last year against former City Councilman Rod Tam for stealing city money and violating state campaign spending laws." -- Star-Advertiser

A new Honda Accord costs about the same amount no matter where you buy it.  But every dime you spend after you leave the dealer’s lot is affected greatly by where you live.... 

One of the recommendations made by consultants to the current Tax Review Commission is almost an after thought, you know like closing the barn door after the horses have escaped....

...truly massive scammers building on empty fields in Kalaeloa, DoE schools, or Kalihi warehouse roofs can now rack up the credits $5M at a time without straining their wrists....

Right now, there is no change in the tax law or its application. The new temporary administrative rules have NOT been issued yet....

• Assistance to Dam and Reservoir Owners
• Appointment of Retired Judges to Serve as Emeritus Judges

Wednesday, September 19, 2012, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School in Lihue....

"These business owners are looking for our government to restore much-needed certainty and confidence in our nation’s economy,” said Governor Lingle

...the actual number or percentage of unionized charter schools varies greatly from state to state....

 ... federal civilian workforce, where staffing levels and salaries would be docked more than 8 percent .... 

Partisan Average includes 2004, 2006, and 2010 senate and 2006 and 2010 governor....

The high-tech buoy network faced $4.5 million in cuts in February, and Hirono opposed bipartisan House legislation to fully fund the critical system for FY2013....

Apple none-too-subtly pressures the Search Advisory Committee to select Lokelani Lindsey's 'Broken Trust' enforcer as AD....

Stop lying to the public!  And please, feel free to forward this to your brother....

$75,000,000 - Various Schools, statewide - Design, construction and works of art....

The only debate before a live audience Hirono agreed to for the entire campaign was hosted last week by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii....