"Let the People Vote" Thousands Rally Against Gay Marriage
HFA: 10,000 at Rally Against Gay Marriage
Clayton Hee Maneuver Excludes 1000s of Testifiers
House Cttes to Hear SB1 Thursday, Deadline for Testimony Approaching
Water bill problems affected 94,000
HART to receive $63.7 million in GET surcharge revenue
Hawaii Congressional Delegation How They Voted October 28, 2013
State Releases 10-Year Report on Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services in Hawaii
Hawaii 3rd Best Place to Retire
HHSC Appropriation Hearing Nov 1
Obamacare: 4,000 losing Medicare plan in isles
SA: UnitedHealthcare, the nation's largest Medicare provider, is eliminating certain Medicare Advantage health plans next year for nearly 4,000 members in Hawaii.
The majority of affected members live in Hawaii, Kauai and Maui counties, and fewer than 100 are on Oahu, the company said in a statement to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
The for-profit health insurer will still offer about eight Medicare plans. UnitedHealthcare has about 20,500 members in Hawaii, including the 4,000 whose plans will no longer be offered.
UnitedHealthcare said it decided to cut some of its Advantage plans because of increasing health care costs, changes in Medicare rules and government funding for the program as a result of rate reductions under President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, sequestration cuts and new insurance premium taxes.
read ... About How Obamacare is getting everybody covered oh yeah!
Djou: Government leaders fail us, but are never held to account
Charles Djou: Recently, Hawaii experienced one of the worst environmental disasters in state history when an unprecedented amount of molasses was released into Hawaiian waters by Matson. To date, no one from Matson or the state government has been dismissed or otherwise held accountable for this environmental disaster. Like an ex-Soviet kleptocracy, the entire Matson molasses disaster has shown a lack of accountability from either the private company or the state government.
Similarly, the University of Hawaii lost $200,000 in a bizarre fraud scheme involving an attempt to hire musician Stevie Wonder to play a concert for UH. The state then spent $500,000 to investigate the loss of this $200,000. After this entire waste of taxpayer money, no one in state government lost their job; no one has been held accountable.
At most, the Stevie Wonder blunder may have led to the retirement of UH President M.R.C. Greenwood. But this appears to have been as much to do with State Senate President Donna Kim exerting undue political influence over Greenwood in an effort to get Kim's son admitted into the UH law school, as with anything to do with the Stevie Wonder concert fiasco. Yet again, like a banana republic, no one has been held accountable for this turn of events at the University of Hawaii.
Star-Advertiser reporter Rob Perez has chronicled the terrible failure of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands to fulfill its mission. Yet, DHHL has only witnessed chaotic staff turnover, allegations of unethical conduct and no one has stepped up in the state government to assume any responsibility.
Another example is the Hawaii Health Connector. After spending millions of taxpayer dollars and being given years to prepare, the program immediately ran into massive problems. Yet again, no one is being held accountable for yet another in a string of continuing failures in our government in Hawaii.
read ... Charles Djou
5-2: Senate committee advances same-sex marriage bill, Shimabukuro Excited by Opportunity to Impose Gay Agenda in Schools
HNN: Sen. Shimabukuro says the discussion today was critical for a better understanding of what's at stake if lawmakers do or don't pass the same-sex marriage bill.
"The HSTA testified in strong support of the measure, I thought that was very interesting to see-- but then there was a teacher from Canada that came and talked about their experiences there where they have legalized same sex marriage and how it's effected the education system. He didn't have a position, (Yes he did. He’s against gay marriage.) but he just talked about how it's really changed their education system, so there's a very thought-provoking debate happening today and I really appreciate all the people that have come to share their mana'o on this very sensitive topic," Shimabukuro said. (Translation: Shimabukuro is inspired by the opportunity to use the DoE to push the gay agenda just as Canada has.)
read … First Read
Even Smug UH Manoa Law Prof Admits SB1 is ‘Narrow’ on Religious Freedom
KHON: "Sometimes I think that giving organizations in the religious sphere a little bit of wiggle room, at least for a period of time, might help the adjustment process," UH Law School Professor Carole Petersen said.
Petersen says other states have given broader religious exemptions by allowing them to earn a certain amount of money before they have to include same-sex marriages.
"If there are religious organizations that are opposed primarily because they are afraid that the law is going to change how they do business within their facilities, then broadening the exemptions a little bit might help," Petersen said.
read … Even the Smug are Surprised
Hawaii Lawmakers Question Benefits Of Gay Marriage
AP: Hawaii already allows civil unions, and some members of a Senate committee questioned Monday whether it was important to also allow gay marriage.
After Hawaii Attorney General David Louie said same-sex couples in civil unions in Hawaii who got married in other states would essentially get similar benefits to couples married under the new law, Republican Sen. Sam Slom questioned the point of debating further.
His comments drew responses of "Amen" from some in the crowd.
But Louie, who supports legalizing gay marriage, said traveling to the U.S. mainland is no small issue….
Judiciary Chairman Sen. Clayton Hee asked Louie to prepare a report detailing any other tangible benefits Hawaii couples would gain or lose, including implications for taxes, insurance and other federal and state benefits.
Louie promised a response and said a law may have implications for Medicaid and Family and Medical Leave Act benefits.
"I have to tell you, I'm kind of confused now," said Sen. Malama Solomon, who said she didn't know until Monday's hearing that gay couples who legally marry in other states would get only minimal benefits by being allowed to marry in Hawaii.
read … Not Much Benefit for gays, lots of damage for families and First Amendment
Gay marriage leader Still not ready to Tie Knot at Age 60
Al-Jazeera: If Abercrombie's bill is passed, Bentz, who is gay, said he would still need to find a suitable candidate.
"I'm still single. Still shopping," he said, laughing. "When the time comes, I would like to be married."
But more than being able to have his state recognize his prospective partner, Bentz said the bill would help future generations of LGBT Hawaiians.
"I'm almost 60…..”
read … Hawaii governor expects gay marriage bill to pass 'within week'
Environmental movement rises to power in Hawaii Borrreca: "At this moment in history, the Sierra Club is the most powerful lobby in Hawaii. Arguably more powerful today than Bishop Estate or Gary Rodrigues/UPW ever was," says John Radcliffe, local lobbyist and member of Abercrombie's "transition team" that recommended Salmonson for the OEQC.
"They dictate environmental policy in Hawaii today. The governor and the Legislature separately or together can't match them," Radcliffe adds.
The nod to the power of the unions in Hawaii is important, because although many of the state's boards and commissions either by statue or custom include a person to "represent labor" on the board, there is no such designation for environmental representatives.
The political power, however, is real and growing. The local Sierra Club is running radio ads urging the preservation of the Koa Ridge in Central Oahu and stopping the development of as many as 3,500 homes. On a national level, Sierra Club is bragging about its clout in helping elect Tulsi Gabbard to Congress over former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann.
"We invested significant resources in media and online support," the Sierra Club bragged on its national website (http://content.sierraclub.org/politics-elections/impact-2012).
read ... Green Power?
Abercrombie Withdraws Salmonson Nomination for OEQC Post
CB: Gov. Neil Abercrombie has withdrawn Genevieve Salmonson’s nomination for director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control.
Salmonson was under fire from environmental groups for her role in the Superferry….
Louise Kim-McCoy told Civil Beat late Monday that Salmonson requested that her name be withdrawn for personal reasons.
read … Scratch One
Several Abercrombie Nominees Targeted for Elimination
WHT: The nominees range from Shawn Smith, a developer of Hokulia-style “gentleman farms” on Kauai for the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to controversial Superferry proponent Genevieve Salmonson’s appointment to the Office of Environmental Quality Control.
“The governor continues to support Shawn Smith in his appointment to the Board of Land and Natural Resources and Genevieve Salmonson in her appointment as director to the Office of Environmental Quality Control,” said spokeswoman Louis Kim McCoy in an email response. “Both are highly qualified and capable of serving the State of Hawaii.” (Oooops, scratch Salmonson, see above.)
Other nominees facing opposition include Windward Planning Commission Chairman Wallace Ishibashi to the Hawaiian Homes Commission and Maui Gold Pineapple Co. Director Douglas Schenk to the Agribusiness Development Corp. board. Geothermal energy opponents oppose Ishibashi, while GMO (genetically modified organism) foes oppose Schenk.
read … Governor’s nominees face scrutiny
Deadline looms for Bill 2491 decision
KGI: Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. will likely wait until the eleventh hour to make a decision about whether to sign or veto Bill 2491.
In an email Monday, county spokeswoman Beth Tokioka said the mayor will make his official announcement in the form of a press release, which should be issued on Wednesday or Thursday, the deadline….
If Carvalho vetoes the bill, the County Council could override his decision via a vote.
read … Veto?
‘Organic’ Fake-Farmers Demand control of KSBE Land
HTH: Of all the challenges Hawaii’s organic farmers face, one kept coming up during a daylong growing organics workshop as a definitive barrier to entering the market: lack of land.
Kyle Studer, who owns Paauilo Forest Farm, said he can see plenty of arable land in the Hamakua District. But much of it is owned by Kamehameha Schools and already in long-term leases for cattle ranching. (KSBE doesn’t want to rent to phonies who pretend to farm so they can live in an illegal shack on cheap ag leases. And the truth is that plenty of land is available, we just lack bonafide farmers to farm it.)
“A lot of the best land is taken by what, in my opinion, is not the best use,” Studer said during The Kohala Center’s workshop at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel Monday. “The best land should go to the best crops.”
But when Studer and other small farmers approach Kamehameha Schools or other large landowners, those property holders don’t want to take a chance on a new crop or farm, or take the leases away from their longtime lessees.
Precisely as Explained: Crichton: Environmentalism is a religion
read … Organic farmers say access to land a top concern
Seniors need help with rentals
SA: While the need for affordable housing is a concern statewide, the issue is especially acute in Waikiki, which has a higher percentage of residents older than 65 than the state overall, and where housing prices, for both home buyers and renters, are more volatile, depending on the tourism market. While the district obviously is renowned as a resort hub, the neighborhood also possesses many qualities that urban planners cite as ideal for aging communities. It's compact, walkable, with relatively easy access to transportation, shopping, health care and social activities.
The 2011 Hawaii Housing Planning Study estimated that the state needs to add 19,200 more affordable rentals for lower-income households by 2016, a goal that island neighborhoods won't come even close to meeting, as Schaefers reported. "There are hundreds of units coming when we need thousands," said Janice Takahashi, chief planner and interim director for the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp.
Given that Hawaii is years behind developing the number of affordable rentals it urgently needs, and that the state's population is aging, perhaps it's time to turn the challenges so evident in Waikiki into opportunities to experiment with innovative housing solutions that have been resisted in the past. One of those potential solutions is rent stabilization, which limits a landlord's ability to raise the rent on long-term tenants.
This subject has been a non-starter at the Legislature as recently as in 2007, when members of the House and Senate proposed that the Legislative Reference Bureau study the legality and effectiveness of programs elsewhere; a concurrent resolution was never adopted.
It's a shame that the feasibility study was not completed; in the intervening years, more and more of Hawaii's people have ended up on the streets, or are teetering on the edge of homelessness.
read ... Waikiki
Food stamps increase in Hawaii
HTH: Justin Majamay is one of 47,731 Hawaii County residents seeing an increase in their food stamp benefits this month….
The cost of food is one reason why Hawaii is the only state not seeing a cut to its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, commonly referred to as food stamps.
SNAP benefits will be decreasing nationwide starting in November. The cuts are happening after a temporary increase to food stamps funded by the federal stimulus package expires on Oct. 31. The increase occurred in 2009, after Congress approved to add a $45.2 billion stimulus package into the program as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help citizens manage during a time of economic woes.
read … Food Stamps
Big plans for a big cable
MN: We had a chance Thursday to meet with representatives of the Hawaii State Energy Office to discuss the proposed 112-mile underwater cable that would link Maui and Oahu's power grids.
Mark Glick, the administrator of the energy office, and Robert R. Mould, an energy analyst for the office, were accompanied by Bob Kendall, a consultant with a company called Navigant that has experience with such cables….
The modernized grid should also be able to easier handle what Glick and Kendall called "micro-grids" - power generated by smaller, consumer-owned photovoltaic systems. (BS—The obstacle to solar expansion is at the substation level. Big Cable will do nothing to change this. They are just trying to harness dissatisfaction over solar restrictions to garner support for Big Cable. Who will be stupide enough to be fooled?)
Glick and Mould said initial estimates of rate savings of between $100 and $170 per year per residence are conservative and both believe those savings would be much higher. (LOL! Actual costs $1B / 1.4M pop = about $750 per person.)
The Public Utilities Commission is expected to consider whether there's a public benefit for the cable in the first quarter of next year.
read … Big plans for a big cable
2 (de)Occupy protestors sent to Jail
SA: Circuit Judge Patrick Border sentenced Catherine C. Russell to 60 days and Blade Michael Walsh to 45 days Monday for obstructing government operations.
A state jury found Russell and Walsh guilty Friday....
A state jury found Russell and Walsh guilty for refusing to get out of a tent that was on the sidewalk at Thomas Square on Sept. 26 last year. The city had tagged the tent for removal the day before.
Russell, Walsh and another person, Jehle Kae Phillips-Frankie, had chained themselves to a wooden forklift pallet and had their arms interlocked inside PVC pipe “sleeves.”
Phillips-Frankie failed to show up at a Jan. 20 court hearing and is wanted on a $250 bench warrant.
Border sentenced Madori Rumpungworn to 30 days in jail earlier this month after another jury found her guilty of obstructing government operations for getting in the way of a city employee attempting to enforce the stored property ordinance at Thomas Square on May 3 last year and for refusing to leave the portion of the park police had marked off with yellow tape for the enforcement.
read ... Occupy a Jail Cell
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