January 18, 2010 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Monday, January 18, 2010

January 18, 2010 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 12:56 PM :: 8243 Views

Abercrombie 9% ahead of Aiona, Hannemann 6% ahead of Aiona

The poll taken by telephone Jan. 8-12 among 800 registered voters across the state has a margin or error of 3.5 percent for the statewide survey and 4.5 percent for the smaller group of 489 likely Democratic primary voters.

The statewide poll also shows that either Abercrombie or Hannemann would beat the expected Republican candidate, Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona Jr.

Abercrombie is favored by 43 percent of the voters compared with 34 for Aiona, according to the poll. Another 23 percent of those surveyed were undecided.

In the Hannemann-Aiona match-up, Hannemann takes 41 percent to Aiona's 35 percent, with 24 percent undecided.

In the expected primary contest between Abercrombie and Hannemann, Abercrombie holds a slight lead, 37 percent to 34 percent of the likely Democratic primary voters, with 29 percent undecided.

Only two Options considered for balancing state budget (you guessed it, tax increase, and raid on special funds)

WAILUKU - As the Legislature readies to begin grappling Wednesday with an anticipated $1.2 billion deficit - and a state constitutional requirement to balance the budget in 60 work days - Maui County's nine-person contingent is looking at wide-ranging solutions from raising the general excise tax by 1 percent to raiding emergency funds.

Tax Increase tops Greenies' wish list for 2010 ($100/barrel tax on oil)

Both groups supported a bill last year that would have raised the barrel tax on petroleum products by $1 (from 5 cents to $1.05) to provide alternative energy and food security programs with an estimated $31 million a year, and both were dismayed when Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed it.

"Energy is really that single issue that touches everyone every day across the state, from Hilo to Hanalei," said Jeff Mikulina, Blue Planet's executive director. "Getting off fossil fuel, we think, needs to be an absolute priority for our economy as well as our environment."

Blue Planet and other groups will ask state lawmakers to take another look at the bill. "I think there's support out there for an even more significant surcharge," Mikulina said, suggesting that a higher barrel tax could also help the state reduce its budget deficit.

The $100 (or $125 per barrel) tax coming thanks to Pierre Omidyar and David Murdock -- Advertiser sides with “sustainability” billionaires

UH aims for sustainable education (More brainwashing)

SustainableUH is a new organization aimed at helping establish University of Hawai'i-Manoa as a world leader in sustainable education, research and practices, by facilitating community events and providing "student-power" for energy audits, waste audits and other green work force projects throughout the 10-campus system.

More brainwashing:

Ocean cleanup a critical task

A 2006 United Nations report estimated that every square mile of ocean contains 50,000 pieces of litter, much of it harmful but not visible to the naked eye. Much of it is believed to have originated in California and Japan and now whirls in an area twice the size of Texas.

(Do the math. That is one invisible piece of litter for every 571 square feet of ocean surface. This is just more propaganda in favor of dumping plastic bags.)

Transit ex-directors support elevated rail (Mufi tries to salvage candidacy)

Several former state and city transportation directors announced their support for a proposed elevated rail system on Oahu, including Gov. Linda Lingle's former transportation director, Rodney Haraga....

Caldwell said the city is waiting for the approval of an environmental impact statement by federal officials, and Lingle's acceptance of it is crucial.

Caldwell said if the Lingle fails to accept the EIS, she would "doom" the project.

"We're hopeful she won't play politics," Caldwell said.... (was he collecting campaign contributions at the event? or does that come later?)

Former state Transportation Director Kazu Hayashida said he is not sure what the cost of rail might be in the future, if the project is not supported now.

Hayashida said at one point the proposed rail system was going to cost $800 million and that the federal government was going to pay for 80 percent of it.

Hayashida said the cost of the project has gone up, and the federal government is now willing to pay for 30 percent of it.

MLK Day observed in Hawaii

The Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition of Hawaii says the theme of this year's parade comes from one of King's statements: "We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now."

Entertainment will continue through the day at the bandstand. There will be ethnic food booths and games for children.

Last year, more than 50 units and 1,000 people took part in the parade, the coalition said.

Hilo roots help drive state's interim DOE superintendent

"It certainly has made it difficult for us as we try to get federal money," she added. "As we apply for ... funds, it counts against us. ... It gives an overall negative impression of the state of education in Hawaii."

Kalapa: Yardstick provided by Council on Revenues

In the past 18 to 24 months, as the national and global economies have taken a hit, the council has been slow to accommodate the impact of the downturn in the economy. As a result, as revenues slid more rapidly than the council's forecasts, lawmakers and administration officials found themselves with a huge hole in the state budget and suddenly realized there wasn't enough money to keep the state operating at the same level or to pay its bills.

In recent hearings, the council was chastised by lawmakers for not having more accurate forecasts of revenues. Unfortunately, in a world where economic dislocations are beyond the control of the council, lawmakers must do what every other household in this state has done -- tighten the proverbial belt.

Sen J Kalani "Powdernose" English will take aim at reforming laws for cannabis

Former cocaine user State Sen. J. Kalani English will probably grab a few headlines when he introduces two bills in the legislative session this week: one to legalize medical marijuana dispensaries and the other to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.

His marijuana reformation bills are modeled after laws already in place in other states.

SB: A blow against slavery

The Sou brothers are not likely to be the only employers in Hawaii to have exploited foreign workers. The Justice Department should use the Sous' case as a starting point for an extensive crackdown on employers that enslave their workers in Hawaii.

For Time Warner, Isles are a gold mine

Alternative providers — including other cable companies, fiber-optic or satellite companies — either don't operate here or have made little headway.

(Somebody is trying to create a use for all of Sandwich Isles' Communications dark fiber.)

ADV: Cooperation could yield trash solution

(This is an editorial about homelessness.)