LINK: Mufi chases Neil Abercrombie out of Congress
LINK: Akaka Bill to be voted by House and Senate Committees
All Mail-in special election mooted
RELATED: Vote By Mail: “Tool of choice for voter fraud”
The Chief Election Officer decides whether or not there will be a special election.
In this case there are several obstacles to such an election. The first is cost.
The special election to fill a congressional seat was in 2002 after U.S. Representative Patsy Mink passed away.
That election cost $2-million. And with the state mired in a budget crisis, Cronin said the Office of Elections has just more than $461,000 to last the next six months.
There is also a manpower problem. A recent report shows the election office staff of 33 is down to just 14 people."One of the options would be if a special election is held, because it is such an election, it can be held as an all mail election," Cronin said.
The city conducted two elections by mail earlier this year to find replacements for members of the Honolulu City Council. Those elections were considerably less expensive than traditional elections.
And there's another obstacle to holding a special election.
Cronin is himself resigning at the end of the year. The Hawaii Elections Commission will have to find a replacement.
Abercrombie:
My departure from Congress will trigger a special election for a replacement. However, the law on special elections provides the flexibility to ensure a timely and cost-effective method for selecting a new representative, as demonstrated by the two mail-in elections for Honolulu City Council held earlier this year. I have complete confidence that the voters of the 1st Congressional District will select a person who will add talent and promise to Hawaii’s delegation.
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School board keeps 2010 meetings in Honolulu to cut costs
Great! Now lets abolish the BoE and save even more!
RELATED: Lingle calls for constitutional amendment: DoE Superintendent to be appointed by next Governor
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Panel votes to block dialysis from Maui (Malulani redux)
WAILUKU - Kaiser Permanente's plan to establish outpatient dialysis facilities on Maui hit a bump Friday as a panel recommended rejection of Kaiser's proposal, saying the facilities would not benefit the entire community and may jeopardize the existing dialysis provider on Maui.
The Certificate of Need Review Panel voted to disapprove the application after a four-hour, standing-room-only meeting in the county Planning Department conference room in Wailuku on Friday morning. Panel member (and anti-Depleted Uranium spokesperson) Dr. Lorrin Pang, the Maui District health officer, abstained from voting while all other panel members present voted to disapprove the application.
(Pang is so very concerned about the non-existent health risks of DU on Big Island, but he won't even vote in favor of new dialysis facilities on Maui)
Simple solution: Government should not have a right to choose whether medical providers bring in equipment or services. ABOLISH THE C.O.N.!
ABOLISH THE C.O.N.:
http://www.malulanifoundation.org/
http://www.aihm-maui.org/
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SB: It is possible to scale back in tight times
Government officials should always be prudent with taxpayers' money, demanding proof that programs are working as intended rather than blindly funding them year after year.
Of course, that doesn't always happen, and money for nothing is easiest to come by when the economy is soaring and the coffers are full. It's impossible to justify such spending in a downturn, but still difficult for bureaucrats to cut programs that outspoken constituents have come to rely on — whether those programs meet core goals or not.
So it's worth praising the recent actions of Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and state Human Services Director Lillian Koller, who by demanding effective outcomes for spending and focusing on helping the broadest population with the least available resources, set an example for other public officials to follow.
RELATED: HSTA using furloughs to keep “Race to the Top” dollars—and reform--out of Hawaii schools
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Police work to clear homeless from park
The number of tents occupied by homeless people at Kapiolani Park has decreased as police issue more citations and warnings to illegal campers before Sunday's Honolulu Marathon.
RELATED: Defeating the 'homelessness industry' before it gets a grip on Hawaii, Homelessness industry takes Hawaii tourism hostage
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Many receive shots despite council's anti-vaccine stance
On Dec. 2, the council voted 7-1 to approve a resolution introduced by Puna Councilwoman Emily Naeole-Beason that stated, in part, "there is insufficient scientific evidence proving that vaccines are safe or effective ...."
RELATED: Thimerosal Veto: Saving Vaccines from Trial Lawyers
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No pay increases for crackpot Hawaii Co. Council, top employees next year
HILO -- Hawaii County Council members who win re-election next year won't get a customary raise, thanks to action the county Salary Commission agreed to Thursday. (No pay cut? Sacrifice without leadership is doomed to chaos.)
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G&R to lease assets for sugar-to-energy
“We’re willing to work with him (Pacific West President and CEO William M. Maloney) and lease him that if his project moves forward,” said Kennett. “We’re prepared to lease our assets to him if he moves forward.”
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