LINK>>> Legislative Report: Convert HHSC to non-profit, dump civil service (full text)
Kalapa: Waiting for taxpayers to take the hit
It seems the teachers union, along with blue-collar workers, are dragging their feet in hopes that they can make it to the finish line called the legislative session and make their case before lawmakers that they should not have to take a hit.
RELATED: Furloughs vs Layoffs: The union no-solution strategy ,
Furlough settlement: HSTA-DoE to submit new ransom demands to Legislature
read more
Census shows Island exodus (over 100/week)
The Census data show that from July 1, 2008, to July 1, 2009, an estimated 5,298 more people moved to the Mainland from Hawai'i than migrated here. During that same period, 4,033 more people from foreign countries came to live in the state than moved away.
That left a net migration loss of 1,265 people.
read more
ADV: Partnerships can power survival strategy (huh?)
(When seemingly pointless editorials like this appear, they reflect secret debate within the Democrat Legislative Caucuses. This is the closest the Adv comes to actually making its point....)
"Legislators must join with Lingle in seeking new private-sector partnerships. While business is also hurting and can't afford wholesale underwriting of government services, officials can explore fiscal partnership in areas where there are shared goals or similar missions."
Here is one example: Legislative Report: Convert HHSC to non-profit, dump civil service (full text)
Here is another: Furloughs: Advertiser sides with “sustainability” billionaires against Save our Sports
read more
Hawaii smokers cutting back in response to higher tobacco taxes
A series of tobacco tax hikes are helping to curtail local sales of cigarettes and cigars.
Through the first 10 months of the year, Hawai'i consumers bought 417 million packs of cigarettes, which, based on state tax collections, was down 12 percent from the same period a year ago.
While lower consumption of tobacco has health benefits, it could be problematic for a state that's counting on recent tobacco-related tax hikes to generate nearly $47 million in added revenue over two years to help balance the state's budget.
The tax foundation's Kalapa said the state needs to choose whether it wants to stop smoking or preserve a valuable tax revenue stream.
(The State is now senior partner in the tobacco industry.)
"It has always been a devil's bargain because you do rely upon tobacco revenues to fund critical and essential services," Oshiro said.
(Soon the State's "stop smoking" campaigns will subliminally deliver a pro-smoking message as the movie "Reefer Madness" once did for another campaign....)
read more
SB: Chinatown rats lead state to hold classes
It appears the "discovery" of (gasp) rats in Chinatown will lead the union media's Washington Monument Gambit as they try to hold on to HGEA jobs.
read more
Kauai: New breed of homeless might need help getting some help
Nearly half the island’s homeless are white males, according to data from the 2009 Hawai‘i Homeless Service Utilization Report for the fiscal year that ended June 30.
Of the 395 who sought emergency shelter housing during that period, 57 percent (225) were male, and 43 percent were Caucasian, according to the report produced by the state Department of Human Services, University of Hawai‘i Center on the Family.
Of those considered homeless and participating in various outreach programs (mainly those living on the beach or in conditions other than in emergency shelters) on Kaua‘i during that fiscal year, 63 percent (239) were men, and 46 percent (176) were white.
Of the Kaua‘i homeless adult individuals in the report, 51 percent (171) were lifetime Hawai‘i residents during that fiscal year.
read more
Kauai: Slom to speak at GOP Women’s Club event
State Sen. Sam Slom will be the featured speaker at the Republican Women’s Club of Kaua‘i New Year’s luncheon, Jan. 5, at the Aston Kaua‘i Beach at Maka‘iwa.
read more
SB: Seal the health care deal
(This is aimed at Larry Mehau associate Rep Mazie Hirono (D-HI), who is threatening to hold out for socialist single payer health "care"....)
Both bills include provisions that would exempt Hawaii law that assures health care coverage at least as broad as that provided in the federal plan. However, Hawaii's law includes a provision that it would "terminate ... upon the effective date of federal legislation" providing for mandatory prepaid health care for Hawaii residents. That raises questions about whether the state's system will survive, let alone be exempt from some federal requirements. (one can only hope . . . )
Provisions of the Senate and House bills differ over coverage of abortions and whether a federally operated plan be included to compete with private insurance companies. Those issues should be resolved in time for enactment by the time of President Obama's state-of-the-union address in late January. (So the "objective" SB is concerned about the Obama's political theatrics?)
The so-called government option included in the House bill is likely to be set aside. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has said she would accept the Senate bill's creation of two or more insurance plans operated by private companies and overseen by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which handles health insurance for federal employees, including members of Congress.
Time will tell whether the federally overseen plans inject enough competition into the market to reduce the price of insurance premiums. If not, Congress should amend the law to require health insurance to be nonprofit, an approach that has been effective in Germany and other countries in keeping prices down. Republicans have called such a system socialistic, which it is not. (Because the SB says so.)
"Premiums are out of hand," says Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. "Chief executive salaries are out of hand. Administrative costs are out of hand. My bottom-line belief is that the health insurance industry should be nonprofit." (Good. Keep fighting amongst yourselves, you may yet torpedo this thing!)
That must wait for another day. The priority now is to put into place a federal health care system sought since the administration of Theodore Roosevelt. (No the priority is to keep the Democrats fighting amongst themselves in hopes of wrecking this process. Stay strong for socialism Mazie!)
(Here's a look at the Hawaii Health care system SB Editors are so very concerned about "saving". It has already been destroyed!)
Legislative Report: Convert HHSC to non-profit, dump civil service (full text)
read more