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Environment
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Friday, January 28, 2011 |
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Hawaii Meth Project names Teen Advisory Council
By News Release @ 1:56 PM :: 6960 Views :: Energy, Environment
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The Hawaii Meth Project today announced its inaugural Teen Advisory Council, formed to promote and facilitate peer outreach. Members of the Teen Advisory Council are playing a key role in the Hawaii Meth Project’s community action plan by encouraging teen volunteerism and identifying peer outreach opportunities at school and in the community to raise awareness about the dangers and risks of methamphetamine use.
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Friday, January 28, 2011 |
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SB 713 & 712: Luddites attack Hawaii agriculture
By News Release @ 1:39 PM :: 6479 Views :: Energy, Environment
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SB 712 would require the Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture to make public the location of field tests of genetically engineered plants.
SB 713 would require a label that says "Genetically Engineered" to be placed on whole foods sold in Hawaii. Since the transgenic papaya is currently the only produce that would be targeted by this law, its passage would have catastrophic economic consequences on Hawaii's papaya farmers since the label is intended to scare people from purchasing the fruit.
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Friday, January 28, 2011 |
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Bills would spend $4B on roads, bridges
By Grassroot Institute @ 1:23 PM :: 5844 Views :: Energy, Environment
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The DOT has a bill in both the Senate (SB1131) and House (HB1531) that calls for $4 billion for a 6-year plan to provide safer and well maintained roads and bridges statewide. This is a far cry from the current $250 million funding per year the department gets to pay for the $7 billion in infrastructure and program needs it says currently exist.
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Thursday, January 27, 2011 |
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The Real State of the State: An Uncensored Look at the Fiscal Challenges Facing Hawaii
By Grassroot Institute @ 10:58 PM :: 6867 Views :: Energy, Environment
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Honolulu—Today the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii released the “The Real State of the State: An Uncensored Look at the Fiscal Challenges Facing Hawaii.” Responding to Governor Neil Abercrombie’s recent “State of the State” address which only scratched the surface, this illuminating expose dives deep into the evidence and causes of the state’s financial crisis.
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Thursday, January 27, 2011 |
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House GOP Caucus introducing transparency bills
By News Release @ 10:46 PM :: 7798 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment
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"The State House of Representatives needs to address the lack of transparency and public participation in the legislative process by using the technology we have at our disposal today by immediately communicating to the public through video, webcasting and audio transmission," said Representative Thielen.
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Thursday, January 27, 2011 |
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Inouye becomes Useless: Democrat leader says “Senate is out of the business of Earmarks”
By Selected News Articles @ 3:53 PM :: 8693 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics
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...that could imperil a cherished practice of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii. Inouye, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has long defended earmarks as a constitutional prerogative. He once called himself the "No. 1 earmarks guy" in Congress.
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Thursday, January 27, 2011 |
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Moody’s: Hawaii bond rating at risk
By News Release @ 2:47 PM :: 9542 Views :: Energy, Environment
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Moody's says that the evaluation of current and projected pension liabilities is an important area of focus in its rating reviews.
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Thursday, January 27, 2011 |
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Abercrombie appoints five more directors, deputies
By News Release @ 2:14 PM :: 4189 Views :: Energy, Environment
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- Gregory Jackson, Director of the Office of Veteran Services
- Jesse Souki, Director of the Office of Planning
- Russell A. Suzuki, First Deputy Attorney General
- Keith Kamita, Deputy Director of Law Enforcement for the Department of Public Safety
- Martha Torney, Deputy Director of Administration for the Department of Public Safety
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Thursday, January 27, 2011 |
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Alaska Native Firms Shift Stimulus Work to Outsiders
By Selected News Articles @ 1:42 PM :: 8780 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics
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This information also applies to Native Hawaiian firms, many of which are doing exactly the same thing.
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Wednesday, January 26, 2011 |
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Life? Hawaii ranks 48th, lacks basic protection for women, unborn children, and terminally ill
By News Release @ 8:07 PM :: 6234 Views :: Energy, Environment
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Hawaii lacks the most basic protections for women, unborn children, and the terminally-ill. The state fails to provide for informed consent for abortion, to require parental involvement in a minor's abortion decision, or to ensure that abortion clinics maintain minimum health and safety standards. It also fails to ban destructive embryo research, human cloning, and assisted suicide.
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Wednesday, January 26, 2011 |
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House GOP Caucus: 10 Questions following State of the State
By News Release @ 7:14 PM :: 6329 Views :: Energy, Environment
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In going through your bills and the other priorities you outlined in your speech, we have a few questions that will help us as we move forward. While we understand more questions and answers will arise as we go through the legislative process, these are the top 10 questions we would like to have discussed as soon as possible.
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Wednesday, January 26, 2011 |
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SB819 would study Mileage Fee for Hawaii Motorists
By Grassroot Institute @ 6:58 PM :: 9380 Views :: Kauai County, DHHL, Energy, Environment
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Thanks to the high cost of motor vehicle fuel--which in Hawaii includes the second highest gasoline taxes in the country at 63.5 cents per gallon--people have started buying alternative cars and cars which get better fuel mileage. The unintended consequence of increasing the cost of motor vehicle fuel is that there is less money going into the state coffers....
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Wednesday, January 26, 2011 |
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Full Text: Recktenwald’s State of the Judiciary Speech
By News Release @ 3:53 PM :: 6456 Views :: Energy, Environment
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I’d like to address several issues with you this morning: our mission, our caseload, our programs, and our needs that have been impacted by the economic downturn.
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Tuesday, January 25, 2011 |
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SB 232: Civil Unions passes Senate Judiciary Committee
By Hawaii Family Forum @ 9:21 PM :: 6325 Views :: Energy, Environment
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The Senate Judiciary committee voted today 3 to 2 to pass the civil unions bill (SB 232) out of committee. The bill will now move to the full Senate for a vote. The vote in committee today was as follows:
- Senator Clayton Hee (SUPPORT)
- Senator Maile Shimabukuro (SUPPORT)
- Senator Mike Gabbard (OPPOSE)
- Senator Les Ihara, Jr. (SUPPORT)
- Senator Sam Slom (OPPOSE)
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Tuesday, January 25, 2011 |
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Public Safety vs. Saving a Buck: SB47 allows early release of Felons
By News Release @ 8:53 PM :: 7958 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment
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Introduced by Sen. Wil Espero (D) on January 21, 2011, to require the Department of Public Safety to establish a pilot program on Oahu that electronically monitors committed persons who are permitted to live and work in the community, in lieu of continued incarceration; and to appropriate funds.
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Tuesday, January 25, 2011 |
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Epic Fail: After giving away $1.3B in Tax Credits, Hawaii ranks 36th in High Tech
By News Release @ 8:28 PM :: 10266 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics
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Hawaii scores high in categories which measure money spent and low in categories showing the results of those expenditures. Notably Hawaii scores 6th in “Net Formation of High-Tech Establishments per 10,000 Business Establishments 2002”—this reflects the large number of fake “hi-tech” companies being formed to sop up ACT 215/221 tax credits.
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Tuesday, January 25, 2011 |
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Ceded Lands Decision Author Justice Samuel Alito to speak at Hawaii Supreme Court Wednesday
By Robert Thomas @ 7:25 PM :: 10412 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics
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Justice Alito's most "Hawaii-centric" opinion was in Hawaii v. Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 129 S. Ct. 1436 (2009), where he authored the opinion for a unanimous Court. In that case, the Court held that the United States held "absolute fee simple" title to Hawaii's ceded lands, and that Congress' 1992 Apology Resolution had no legal effect.
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Tuesday, January 25, 2011 |
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Governor Abercrombie Names Judge McKenna to State Supreme Court
By News Release @ 7:10 PM :: 6710 Views :: Energy, Environment
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Judge McKenna, 53, has been serving in First Circuit Court since 1995 and currently serves as the Senior Judge of the Family Court.
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Tuesday, January 25, 2011 |
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Financial State of the State: Actual taxpayer burden is $18.2 Billion
By News Release @ 2:44 PM :: 6519 Views :: Energy, Environment
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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.
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Tuesday, January 25, 2011 |
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BoE Member Lei Ahu Isa suddenly resigns
By News Release @ 2:41 PM :: 8480 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment
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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.
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Tuesday, January 25, 2011 |
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State of the Union? Denial
By Heritage Foundation @ 10:26 AM :: 6488 Views :: Energy, Environment
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This is only President Barack Obama's second State of the Union, but his failed economic agenda has already forced him into early reruns. After more than $800 billion in Keynesian economic stimulus spending, our nation is still mired in a post World War II record 20th consecutive month of near double digit unemployment. Our national deficit stands at $14.06 trillion and we may hit the $14.29 trillion debt ceiling as early as this spring. Our country desperately needs a change direction, but that is not what we will get tonight.
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Monday, January 24, 2011 |
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GOP: Governor’s number one priority is satisfying the public sector unions at the expense of everyone else
By Jonah Ka`auwai @ 10:51 PM :: 4791 Views :: Energy, Environment
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The Governor wants to create taxes for soda, beer and retirement income, he wants to cut funding to Medicare, social services, the Hawaii Tourism Authority and let Aloha Stadium fall apart, just so public sector unions do not have to face furloughs ....
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Monday, January 24, 2011 |
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Grassroot: “Disappointed by Abercrombie’s tax increases”
By Grassroot Institute @ 10:41 PM :: 4597 Views :: Energy, Environment
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Governor Abercrombie referred to Hawaii as an “under-resourced and often dysfunctional democracy”. In the coming days the Grassroot Institute will release a report we call “The Real State of the State” detailing how the state government is far from under-resourced and extremely inefficient in its use of those resources.
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Monday, January 24, 2011 |
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Obamacare: How Hawaii’s Congressional delegation voted
By News Release @ 10:29 PM :: 7520 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics
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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.
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Monday, January 24, 2011 |
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Marumoto reintroduces ban on pickup truck bed passengers
By News Release @ 10:01 PM :: 6711 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment
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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).
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Monday, January 24, 2011 |
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Full Text: Abercrombie’s State of the State Speech 2011
By News Release @ 2:22 PM :: 8379 Views :: Energy, Environment
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- 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....
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Sunday, January 23, 2011 |
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Truth in Accounting: Hawaii hiding an additional $11.9B in debt
By News Release @ 10:27 PM :: 8872 Views :: Energy, Environment
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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.
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Sunday, January 23, 2011 |
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Transparency? Abercrombie administration brings secrecy back to Capitol
By Andrew Walden @ 8:50 PM :: 8881 Views :: Energy, Environment
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“There must be transparency in government so people know that their economic interests are being represented, not just the interests of a powerful few.” -- Neil Abercrombie, “A New Day in Hawaii”
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Saturday, January 22, 2011 |
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SB120 would Repeal Dozens of Special Funds
By News Release @ 5:48 PM :: 6700 Views :: Energy, Environment
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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.
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Saturday, January 22, 2011 |
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Saturday, January 22, 2011 |
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SB232: Senate Judiciary Committee to hear Civil Unions Tuesday
By Hawaii Family Forum @ 12:45 AM :: 7005 Views :: Energy, Environment
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SB 232 Relating to Civil Unions: Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee January 25, 2011 (Tuesday) @ 10:00 a.m. in room #016
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Friday, January 21, 2011 |
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Speaker Say announces Democrat Leaders, Committee Chairs
By News Release @ 7:12 PM :: 5934 Views :: Energy, Environment
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Speaker of the House Calvin Say today announced the House of Representatives leadership team and the Committee chairmanships for the 26th Legislature.
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Friday, January 21, 2011 |
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Governor Abercrombie Appoints Marc Alexander as Coordinator on Homelessness in Hawaii
By News Release @ 11:19 AM :: 7661 Views :: Energy, Environment
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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.
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Thursday, January 20, 2011 |
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Analysis: Hanabusa’s glorious DC MetroRail would leave Rida Cabanilla stuck in traffic
By Andrew Walden @ 10:51 PM :: 10386 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics
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Rep Rida Cabanilla last October told the audience at a candidates’ forum: “You ride the rail so I can drive my car.”
In DC, 106 miles of subways have been built--how do the regal V-8 carriages of Cabanilla's DC bretheren fare now that the the peasants have been removed from underfoot?
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Thursday, January 20, 2011 |
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Full Text: House Minority Leader Opening Day Address
By News Release @ 3:06 PM :: 6947 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment
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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.
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Thursday, January 20, 2011 |
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Abercrombie appoints Georgette Jordan HD 45 Representative
By News Release @ 2:06 PM :: 8116 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment
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“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.
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Wednesday, January 19, 2011 |
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National Alliance for Public Charter Schools: Hawaii Law still needs Significant Improvement
By News Release @ 11:44 PM :: 10099 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics
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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.
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Wednesday, January 19, 2011 |
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Governor Seeking Applicants to Board of Education
By News Release @ 10:29 PM :: 5878 Views :: Energy, Environment
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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....
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Wednesday, January 19, 2011 |
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Hanabusa admits failure to get Appropriations Committee seat
By Jonah Ka`auwai @ 10:21 PM :: 9975 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics
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Hawaii GOP Chair Jonah Kaauwai release a statement on Rep. Colleen Hanabusa's announcement that she was unable to secure the Hawaii seat on the House Appropriations Committee that her campaign had promised.
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Wednesday, January 19, 2011 |
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Obamacare: Administration Report “wildly misleading” on pre-existing conditions
By Heritage Foundation @ 5:00 PM :: 8771 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics
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This debunked HHS report was recycled as Hawaii Democrat talking points, and shoveled onto the pages of the Star-Advertiser this morning >>> Democrats warn of harm if health care reform is repealed
It didn't work, The US House today passed HR2 to repeal Obamacare 245-189 with unanimous GOP support plus three Democrats. But the study will be kept on hand in order to manufacture future campaign commercials.
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Wednesday, January 19, 2011 |
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House Republican caucus announces Legislative Package
By News Release @ 1:39 PM :: 6413 Views :: Energy, Environment
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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.
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Wednesday, January 19, 2011 |
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Full Text: Sen. Sam Slom Opening Day Address
By Sen. Sam Slom @ 1:18 PM :: 7756 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment
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Some people have referred to me as "The Lone Ranger" because throughout the entire United States I am the only single party Senator in a State Legislature.
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Sunday, January 16, 2011 |
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House Republican Caucus announces Committee Assignments
By News Release @ 6:47 AM :: 6303 Views :: Energy, Environment
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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.
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Saturday, January 15, 2011 |
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Abercrombie, Legislators scheme to divert capital improvement money to General Fund
By Andrew Walden @ 10:57 PM :: 10444 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment
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Abercrombie and potential House Finance Chair Marcus Oshiro have come up with--a $100M per year scheme to divert bond funds into the General Fund disguised as a repeal of the subcontractor exemption from the General Excise Tax.
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Saturday, January 15, 2011 |
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Honolulu Grand Jury charges two more in human trafficking case
By News Release @ 1:12 PM :: 11642 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics, World News, Family
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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.
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Friday, January 14, 2011 |
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Tax hikes? Gambling? Defeated bills from 2010 session may reappear in 2011
By Andrew Walden @ 11:41 PM :: 6450 Views :: Energy, Environment
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Governor Abercrombie and likely House Speaker Calvin Say have both come out against any across-the-board hike in the GE Tax. But that doesn’t mean they won’t be hiking taxes to meet the state’s $800M budget shortfall....
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Thursday, January 13, 2011 |
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650% return on Inouye: $1.9M in contributions, $1.25B in earmarks
By Center for Public Integrity @ 6:16 PM :: 9055 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics
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Perhaps because at different points in the past four years he chaired commerce and appropriations, he got significant campaign contributions from players in the communications industry and from government defense contractors. Both Boeing and Northrop Grumman, among Inouye’s largest PAC contributors, each received millions in 2010 defense earmarks....
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Thursday, January 13, 2011 |
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Flashback: Obama defends Christian Invocation at Inaugural
By News Release @ 2:07 PM :: 8228 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics
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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....
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Wednesday, January 12, 2011 |
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'Great Garbage Patch' Not So Great After All
By Selected News Articles @ 1:05 PM :: 11735 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics, World News, Family
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It's been called the Great Garbage Patch and "the most shocking thing" Oprah has ever seen: a massive island of plastic in the Pacific Ocean that, according to many reports, is twice the size of Texas, outnumbers plankton, and has killed millions of sea birds.
But many of those claims, according to a new analysis, are huge exaggerations. Others are downright false.
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Wednesday, January 12, 2011 |
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Abercrombie announces four more appointments
By News Release @ 12:01 PM :: 6868 Views :: Energy, Environment
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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).
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