January 30, 2010 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Saturday, January 30, 2010

January 30, 2010 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 12:01 PM :: 6762 Views

LINK>>>“Hold” placed on Akaka Bill in Senate could effectively prevent passage

House Tables Civil Union Bill Indefinitely

HONOLULU -- State Representatives decided on Friday to table the civil unions bill amidst shouts from supporters in the House Chambers. (No respect for dissent by the gay lobby.)

Civil union supporters were outraged. Supporters of civil unions shouted at the House members. Some called for a roll call to see who would vote against the measure. Other called the lawmakers "cowards" who were "disgraceful" or "shameful." (The Leg is just waiting to see if they can get Neil Abercrombie elected. They’ll be back.)

"We're sorely disappointed that the Hawaii State House refused to take action on the civil unions bill," Equality Hawaii Co-Chairwoman Tambry Young said in a written statement. "Today, the House put its own political interests before the interests of Hawaii's families and that's bad policy and bad politics. We pledge that this fight is not over and we will continue in our efforts to see true equality in our state."

“This is a temporary victory that only seeks to delay a meaningful decision on traditional marriage," Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona said in a written statement. “The State Legislature will continue to play political hot potato with the institution of marriage until the people of Hawai‘i are allowed to vote on it once and for all.”. . .

Say said last year's 33 House votes in favor of civil unions had eroded to just 27 votes, which was not a veto-proof majority.

(They’re waiting ‘til 2010 hoping Neil Abercrombie will be elected Governor. Neil is co-sponsor along with Mazie Hirono of bill to repeal Defense of Marriage Act.)

SB: Anonymous vote in House shelves bill on civil unions

ADV: House indefinitely postpones action on Hawaii civil-unions bill

Couple helped ignite debate: They sparked struggle for civil rights (sic) in Isles, but never saw it happen

(ADV runs a piece about one of the three couples involved who first filed suit for gay marriage in Hawaii.)

Acknowledging that the two had laid a foundation on which others could build, Melillo said in 1999 that he and Lagon had decided to withdraw from the public battle.

"Nine years out of our life is enough for the cause right now," Melillo said.

Not long after that, the two lost their T-shirt silk-screening business to arson. In 2006, Melillo died of cancer at age 59. Lagon, who did not respond to requests for comment for this article, was at his side….

Then in 1997, following years of protracted and acrimonious demonstrations on all sides, the Hawai'i Legislature passed the most sweeping rights and benefits package ever given to couples of the same gender in the United States to that point.

But, the following year, the voters of Hawai'i, by a 70 percent margin, passed a constitutional amendment granting the state Legislature the power to reserve marriage for a man and a woman.

The constitutional amendment made the same-sex marriage case moot in Hawai'i's courts.

By then Baehr and Dancel had left the state, Pregil and Rodrigues could not be reached for comment, and Melillo and Lagon had become disheartened by the path Hawai'i had taken.

(They all seem to have evaporated, leaving only their Gramscian trace behind to haunt us.)

Here’s another story about a gay rights pioneer in Hawaii. Note the name “Dancel” in this story: Child molester back at work at Hawaii Legislature

Re-inventing Government: Five key reforms to save money (Commission backs constitutional amendment to dump BoE)

Improving Hawaii's information technology was the top recommendation of the Task Force on Reinventing Government. Other recommendations include:

» Consolidating state and county transportation services to eliminate redundancies.

» Increasing public school classroom instructional time, implementing a statewide curriculum and putting the schools superintendent under the governor's control.

» Clarifying what services the government should provide and determine whether some can be outsourced to the private sector.

» Simplifying the state's 1,700 different job classifications.

Lawmakers Consider Casino Gaming in Waikiki (to feed the corporatist State)

"The issue is tourism, the issue is we need to find ways to get people to come here to Hawaii," said Hawaii lobbyist John Radcliffe. "The economy then was awful, the economy today is worst."

The measure would grant a 10-year license for one stand-alone casino in Waikiki but not in a hotel….

The casino would create about 4,000 jobs and generate about a half-billion dollars in revenue each year, a similar amount that leaves the state for gaming destinations like Las Vegas.

"$550 million that would be over the last 11 years that's $6 billion plus. If we could have captured just 15 or 20 percent of that we would not be in the shape that we are in the state of Hawaii," said Radcliffe.

Radcliffe says Marketing Resource Group of Michigan is interested in the project. The Ilitch family owns Little Caesar's Pizza, the Detroit Tigers and Redwings as well as several casinos….

Most crime in Hawaii linked to drugs, says law agency official

Authorities say the death of 23-month-old Cyrus Belt, whose accused killer was high on crystal meth, along with virtually every adult in the toddler's life, highlights the major role illegal drugs play in many crimes — from murders to thefts — in the Islands.

Witnesses detailed in court this week the crystal meth use by not only accused killer Matthew Higa, but by Belt's mother, Nancy Chanco, her live-in boyfriend, her father and Higa's father.

State audit of DBEDT critcizes use of private funds for overseas trade missions

"Our review of financial records from the Out-of-State Offices also found a deposit of $35,000 of private funds into the Taipei office's bank account. The transfer of private funds directly into the office's account jeopardized its non-profit status and threatened its ability to function as a government office," the audit said.

"Moreover, our investigation found that the transferred funds were money solicited by the department from private companies to sponsor the 2005 (trade) mission," the audit said.

The audit noted that the department has said its 2005 trade mission was thoroughly reviewed by the Legislature, and lawmakers concluded there were no violations.

PDF: DBEDT audit report

ADV: Hawaii audit calls for ouster of economic development director

ADV: City must pass bills on tents, carts in parks

(Evenhandedness Advertiser style. First they look out for tourism…)

The city can no longer skirt the issue of tents springing up all over O'ahu's parks — especially in Waikīkī, where tourists are noticing the slovenly appearance of Kapi'olani Park and complaining about it….

(But then they toss a bone to the homelessness industry….)

For example, the not-in-my-backyard concerns of the Chinatown community have set back a city proposal to site a new shelter there. The council should find the determination to build a homeless center in the urban core to provide a safe shelter to those who need it.

RELATED: Homeless aid group searching for own new home (Gives stuff to un-sheltered homeless to keep them comfy out of shelter)

EXPLAINED: Kapiolani Park: Homelessness industry takes Hawaii tourism hostage , Defeating the "homelessness industry" before it gets a grip on Hawaii

SB: L.A.'s medical marijuana troubles hold lessons

Gov. Linda Lingle has ignored 2009 legislation directing her to create a task force at finding a way for patients to acquire it legally. Her administration has insisted on adhering to the federal law that the Justice Department has decided to ignore. (Thank God)

Bills before this year's Legislature would place the medical marijuana program under the Department of Health, where it belongs. Marijuana has been found to be effective in easing pain from such diseases at AIDS, cancer and multiple sclerosis. The department would license producers and dispensers. (Sponsored by “powdernose” English.)

The proposal importantly would create a task force assigned with developing a distribution system and identifying requirements for the licensing of producers and production facilities. The Los Angeles experience should be helpful in determining how such a system should operate.

(Wrong. The LA experience, and out own experience on Maui should tell us to dump this idea.)

Committee Kills Bill To Hike Soda Tax (didn’t tax enough drinks)

House Health Chairman Ryan Yamane's committee killed the bill. Yamane said he was concerned that the bill singled out only sodas for taxation, and not other drinks also containing high amounts of sugar like energy and sports drinks.

Rep. Marilyn Lee had introduced soda tax bill, saying it would help raise more revenue for the state as well as discourage people from drinking unhealthy sodas.

School board's Cochran (HSTA flunkey) to run for Maui County Council (rat jumps sinking ship)

Cochran lives in Paia. Council Member Mike Molina, who currently holds the seat, will be unable to run for re-election due to term limits.

Cochran is in her eighth year on the school board and previously served as an attorney to the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

(Maybe she thinks there won’t be a BoE next year….)

MCC to become 4-year Maui College

Formally, the new name is proposed as the University of Hawaii-Maui, Maui College, a step ahead from Maui Community College (MCC).

At a Business before Hours breakfast sponsored by the Maui Chamber of Commerce at the Elleair Ballroom, Greenwood said it might sound a bit like "inside baseball," but "it means a lot symbolically." Already, MCC has been advanced from the junior to the senior commission in accreditation, in recognition that it now provides upper-level courses.

State Boots Student Display From Capitol (gay ‘families’ remain)

The "1,000 Student Voices" project showcased student artwork expressing their views on furlough Fridays and education in general.

SOS Hawaii is calling it a violation of their First Amendment rights….

DAGS officials said they had received complaints about the exhibit being too political.

SB: Censorship dispute opens up at Capitol

Senators To Vote On Kubo Nomination Next Week

HONOLULU -- State senators decided on Friday to delay a vote on the judicial nomination of former U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo until next week.

Kubo's nomination could be in jeopardy. He failed to garner enough votes in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday to gain a recommendation. Senators voted 3 to 3.

In hearings on Thursday, some senators were concerned that Kubo had not informed the Judicial Selection Commission about a court reprimand against him in 1997.

(Now we’ve got a 13-year old lunch-break case and a parking space issue. These are indeed earthshaking moral and ethical issues. This editor proposes that the Senators borrow convicted child molester Leon Rouse from his job in Rida Cabanilla’s office to prepare a serious and thoughtful report on these serious lunch and parking violations. Meanwhile the “draft Kubo for Honolulu Prosecutor” committee is meeting in a basement office of Honolulu Hale once used by a civil defense director --initials JB-- some decades ago. . . . Govs. Lingle, Aiona, Carlisle, Kubo 2002 – 2034. Hmmmmmmm.)

SB: Senate postpones vote on Kubo

Omidyar-backed sustainable-ag group takes over Maui's Kapalua Farms

Pierre Omidyar, who invested in Maui Land & Pineapple Co. stock when the company was being pushed in a greener direction, is now supporting a for-profit/charitable combination that is taking over ML&P's Kapalua Farms, one of the largest organic farms in the state….

The initiative is structured to operate both for-profit businesses and nonprofit ventures to improve sustainability (a religious term) and the quality of life for Hawaii residents in three main areas: renewable energy, food production and waste reduction.

Ulupono's first investment was in Reuse Hawaii, which demolishes buildings on Oahu and reclaims fixtures and materials.

It also is supporting Sopogy, a solar energy business…. (ACT 215/221)

Datta said both sides, profit-making businesses and grants, have the same entrepreneurial orientation. What all ventures share is "really good managers" who will "in future decades, we hope, change the direction of our society."

Ulupono is not so much an operator as a supporter of operating businesses, Datta said. Also, it intends to foster collaboration among like-minded ventures to get the benefit "of all of us working together."….

(More on the ‘double-bottom line’ company scam: Advertiser sides with “sustainability” billionaires)