LINK>>>Cast Your ballot: Abercrombie nominated "2009 Porker of the Year"
Case calls Inouye's remarks incorrect
In a campaign e-mail to supporters, Case said Inouye's "recollection of the facts is not correct."
Inouye was not available for reaction because he is en route to Japan, but a press spokesman said Inouye "stands by his statements."
RELATED: Case implies Hanabusa campaign is dirty and negative
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SB: Put same-sex civil unions on the table
The controversy surfaces as a federal court in San Francisco begins hearing evidence on the issue of whether California's Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriages violates the U.S. Constitution. The lawsuit is expected to go before the U.S. Supreme Court next year. (Read NYT: Stacking the Deck Against Proposition 8)
The constitutionality of civil unions is questionable. They are clearly "separate but equal," a practice that was shot down as a defense in cases of racial discrimination by the landmark 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education. (Only if one accepts the bizarre idea that people are defined by their sexual choices)
MORE: Imagined ethnicity
MORE: Protest January 17th: Gay Civil Unions HB444 poised for passage in 2010
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Matayoshi Confirmed as Hawaii Department of Education Interim Superintendent
Matayoshi's interim appointment extends for six months, through July 11, 2010, at which time the Board expects to have chosen a permanent superintendent.
The board has been split between Toguchi’s 8 members and Harimoto’s 5 members. Toguchi’s faction is pushing for reform of the Department of Education’s business practices -- streamlining it to make the department more efficient. They endorse the interim Superintendent Kathy Matayoshi, a businesswoman who has a track record of reforming the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.
(8 members know the bureaucracy is in mortal danger, 5 don't)
ADV: Hawaii school chief's pay cap scrutinized (In the middle of furloughs, the want to give the Sup't a raise. Amazing arrogance.)
What convenient timing: Hamamoto's DoE resignation: To block Lingle's constitutional amendment?
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Abercrombie on Furloughs: "Minimize the bureaucratic levels" in DoE "without cutting back bureaucracy"
one attendee pressed the Congressman on what he would have done had he been in the governor's seat for the last year, to prevent teacher furloughs.
First, Abercrombie said, cutting instructional days would not have been an option. The best plan would have been to "maximize the allocation to the classroom and minimize the bureaucratic levels." Asked to clarify, he said he did not mean cutting back the department's bureaucracy, but to move around funds within the department's budget....
(Read that again very slowly)
Abercrombie declined to comment on the importance of Inouye's approval in election efforts in Hawaii.
Inouye has not endorsed any candidate for governor. (But he has urged Mufi to run against the hippie from Buffalo.)
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ADV: Time for silent majority to step up on rail (and save Mufi's candidacy)
"The time for additional public hearings is over," said U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (who encouraged Mufi to run against Neil). "The time for action is now. This project will have the dual benefit of relieving traffic congestion from West O'ahu to Honolulu, while creating an estimated 10,000 jobs to get our construction sector thriving once again. It's a decade overdue. Let's get on with it," Inouye said.
The senior senator is right. Our policymakers should heed that call. (Because we at the Advertiser want Mufi, not Neil to represent OUR party against Duke in November).
FOIA Release Shows Mufi fears Leg raid on Rail Fund
“The City is highly focused on a groundbreaking before the end of calendar year 2009 to fulfill early promises project schedule and to deter the State Legislature (that convenes in January) from diverting funds from the rail-dedicated tax revenue stream to meet shortfalls in the State budget. To achieve this milestone objective, the City anticipates circulation of the FEIS shortly after PE approval and receipt of a Record of Decision (ROD) shortly after the FEIS circulation period concludes. With environmental clearance of the project, the City hopes to receive approval from FTA through a Letter of No Prejudice to break ground on the westernmost 6-mile segment sometime in December. This schedule appears unlikely due to the delay of the FEIS...."
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Kokubun: No changes seen for Senate leadership
"The special election won't happen until the session is done," Kokubun said. "I don't anticipate any changes." Should Hanabusa, who formally kicked off her campaign Saturday, win the special election, the Senate's leadership would be reorganized. By attrition, Kokubun would be first in line, he said.
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9-11 Trooothers challenge Army's DU request
HILO -- Four Hawaii residents, including three from the Big Island, are challenging the U.S. Army's application to possess depleted uranium. A videoconference hearing Wednesday in Hilo will determine whether the petitioners -- peace activist (9-11 trooother) Jim Albertini, the Sierra Club's Cory Harden, plus Isaac Harp, of Waimea, and Luwella Leonardi, of Waianae, Oahu -- have standing to challenge the Army.
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Aloun Farms owners to admit to illegally importing farm laborers
The owners of Aloun Farms, one of the largest and best-known agricultural businesses in Hawai'i, are scheduled to plead guilty tomorrow in federal court to illegally importing farm laborers from Thailand and holding them in virtual servitude....
"Both brothers are going to help the government go after the people in Thailand who made false promises to the workers," said Eric Seitz, lawyer for Mike Sou .
"The brothers became caught up in a web of regulatory problems," Seitz continued.
"We deny categorically that we did anything to abuse or harm anyone," said Seitz.
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Kahala Panty Burglar gets five years
In 2007, he was sentenced to a new five-year probation term for failure to fully comply with Hawai'i sex offender registration laws.
Last year, he was sent to jail for 60 days after he was found to be advertising on Craigslist for female roommates at a Kāne'ohe "executive mansion."
After his release, Mew did not report to authorities and recently showed deception when polygraphed "about where he's been sleeping" and about "his financial situation," according to Deputy Prosecutor Michelle Pu'u.
DETAILS: Soft on Crime: Sex Offender sets up "castle" in Kaneohe
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Council committee to consider bulky trash fine
A bill that would hit property owners with hefty fines for putting their bulky trash on the sidewalk too soon will be heard by the City Council's Public Infrastructure Committee at 1 p.m. today.
Inspectors would first issue a non-monetary citation to a property owner if bulky trash is left in the yard earlier than the night before a scheduled pickup. If the trash isn't removed within seven days, a $500-a-day penalty would kick in.
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