Environment

The Senate Minority voted “NO” on 7 of these measures—often casting the lone vote in opposition— and on one bill “with reservations.”

"...it's time to put the political histrionics aside and work to implement the law...."

In Hawaii 84,130 will be added to Medicaid. Many will first lose their existing private health insurance.

...questionable policy judgments in the PPACA such as the decision to create unelected Independent Review Boards, the punitive tax on medical device manufacturers, and the elimination of Medicare Advantage programs deserve meaningful bipartisan discussion....

Fitch believes HPH's strategy augurs well for sustained financial performance in a pressured reimbursement environment....

We must view our islands as interdependent and remain open to all renewable projects....

The Nursing Facility Sustainability Program special fund is expected to generate $11.5 million. Twelve percent of the revenue shall be used by the DHS ....

Hawaii Republican Candidate Takes Big Third Step to Achieving ‘Young Gun’ Status....

The Chamber's invitation is to the primary winners.  Congresswoman Mazie Hirono was also invited but has not accepted....

NMFS prepared a draft take reduction plan and was required to finalize the plan and implementing regulations no later than December 16, 2011, but failed to do so, which is why we’re back in court....

...the Court's docket entry was updated to reflect consideration of the petition at the Thursday, June 28, 2012 conference....

At the bottom of the scale were two states where fewer than half of all adults went to the polls four years ago: Hawaii (46.8 percent) and Texas (48.8 percent)....

After reviewing more than 340 measures, Governor Neil Abercrombie today notified the State Legislature of his intent to veto 19 of those bills....

The unwillingness of Congress to make tough decisions could seriously harm our country's future and the American people. This was one of the key messages Governor Linda Lingle and her colleagues on the Governors' Council of the Bipartisan Policy Center heard during two days of extensive meetings in Washington....

• Senate: Motion to Proceed; Disapproval Resolution – EPA Regulations
• Senate: Farm Bill – Final Passage
• Senate: Cloture – Flood Insurance Reauthorization
• House: Land and Water Projects
• House: Domestic Energy Policy
• House: Motion to Instruct Conferees – Highway Bill

"Hawaii is a state of small business owners, unlike other states where you have some very large employers. Here we really are reliant on our smaller businesses," said Governor Lingle.

The nation’s 52nd-largest urban area has only about 950,000 people, yet it is spending $5.3 billion, or more than $5,500 per resident, to build a single 20-mile rail line. That’s probably a greater cost per person than any rail system ever built....

Black Press is subject to a cash flow sweep as long as debt to EBITDA exceeds 3.75x, which has resulted in debt repayment above the scheduled amortization....

...an advocate for a program that state government has been trying to implement for nearly two decades asked why couldn’t taxpayers support a hike in the general excise tax rate....

Last week, Katie Thomas of the New York Times ran a breathless expose of the devious actions that many colleges have taken to escape the mandate of gender equality under Title IX of the Civil Rights Act....

The trial court had determined the plaintiffs' regulatory takings claims were not ripe because they should have tried to change offending land use regulations which allegedly deprive their property of all economically beneficial uses.

Urbanized (Gary Hustwit 2012), Saturday, June 23, 7:00 p.m., at R&D, 691 Auahi Street, Honolulu....

The real-time blocking system— provided at no charge for the state—allows retailers to automatically block unlawful pseudoephedrine (PSE) purchases in real-time and at the point of sale.

Moving on up: Last year Hawaii taxpayers owed 'only' $25,000 ....

Federal Question ... whether the Act violates or its implementation would violate: The Equal Protection clause or other provisions of the Constitution or civil rights laws of the Unites States or the fiduciary duties of the trustee State of Hawaii and you and other State officials under the federally-created Ceded Lands Trust....

Vijoy Chattergy, investment specialist, has been named interim CIO, subject to administrative approvals, said Wes Machida....

HGEA slate of endorsed candidates announced for state and county races....

Sierra Club endorsements include seven Republicans....

“I don’t support it, of course,” McConnell said, “and I don’t think it will pass.”

The ownership structure of Octopus Holdings, L.P. is as follows: ninety eight percent (98%) of the partnership interest is owned by the Lawrence J. Ellison Revocable Trust and the remaining two percent (2%) is owned by Tentacle Corporation....

UNITE HERE officials agreed to refund a substantial chunk of Orr's union dues after they were caught using her money for political activism....

Dr. Prevedouros addresses questions posed by Candidate Caldwell....

The report provides a list of BOE actions that focused on changes in student achievement, service support improvements and staff development....

• Senate: Motion to Table; Farm Bill – Sugar Price Supports Repeal 
• Senate: Motion to Table; Farm Bill – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Elimination

Hawaii’s retirement plans had a liability of $32.5 billion and the state has fallen $21 billion short in setting aside money to pay for it....

Here's Transportation Daily's view on the last minute efforts by Congress to craft an acceptable new Transportation Bill....

You can find the real reason for bus service reductions in the FTA’s rather grudging letter granting acceptance of the City/HART’s rail project into the Final Design process....

Lawmakers are rated on their support and advocacy for small business and an improved business climate....

“By marking Hawai'i Pollinator Week in conjunction with National Pollinator Week, our state is helping to create a positive ‘buzz’ around bees...."

Department of Taxation may begin to use the subpoena power beyond criminal investigations into examination and collection functions....

The video features Governor Lingle and several supporters, as they discuss how our state and country should move forward....

NYT: Ms. Lingle deserves credit for creativity in trying to get noticed by voters in Hawaii, a state with abysmal voter turnout and deep election inertia....

During the recent economic downturn, 20 states (Hawaii is #21) increased health provider taxes to take advantage of federal matching funds....

The decision facing them is whether they will continue to attempt to create state-run exchanges (despite the financial pitfalls) or if they will run partnership exchanges with the federal government....

CEO Grabauskas tells us that the cost of the planned extensions to UH, Waikiki and to Kapolei Town will bring the total to $9.03 billion .... 

...the entire listing of HART people and companies on staff includes over $3M of "public involvement' and 'multimedia' contracts....

Whenever some policymaker comes up with a proposal to grant a tax preference to a certain group of taxpayers, one has to take that proposal with a grain of salt ....

"Hirono is, well, either living in a fantasy world or pandering to the electorate."

The entire former MCAS Ewa was designated as National Register eligible during the BRAC transfer process and significant historic sites have already been discovered since the original BRAC 1999 surveys were done....

...sustainable job growth is not going to come from a few big corporations hiring hundreds of people. Job growth is going to come from lots and lots of small businesses....