April 11, 2010 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Sunday, April 11, 2010

April 11, 2010 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 12:42 PM :: 11818 Views

ADV: Is Hanabusa a lackey?

Question: Is Hanabusa a lackey of the Democratic Party and labor establishment, which have endorsed her? Or is she a strong, independent advocate for her constituents?

Question: Is Case an effective team player who can advance Hawai'i's interests? Or is he an outspoken outlier who alienates rather than unites?

Question: Does Djou's fiscal conservatism provide needed balance to Hawai'i's liberal delegation? Or should voters worry that he will be co-opted by the uncompromising House minority leader John Boehner and the anti-Obama Republicans?

(The akamai reader will note that Case is not challenged by ADV Editors on whether he will be “co-opted by the uncompromising House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the pro-Obama Democrats.” Case’s record shows that he has been co-opted by Pelosi in the past.)

CASE: Ed Case votes against tax cut for military personnel, supports death tax, Ed Case: “A reliable vote for imposing higher taxes on middle-class families and small businesses”, Ed Case in Congress: Influence less than zero, Ed Case in Congress voted 72 times for higher taxes, fees

HANABUSA: Fireworks, dirt, and stolen trucks: Colleen Hanabusa and the Honolulu Raceway Deal, Hanabusa, Souza tied to Pali Golf course shooters’ mob, Cayetano: Hanabusa's Broken Trust connections lead to Ko Olina

Tax hikes mean Hawaii state job cuts drop to only 689, 1% of total

Last summer, Gov. Linda Lingle said she wanted to cut up to 2,500 state jobs to reduce the budget deficit. That figure was later revised to 1,197 positions. As of last week, the state had eliminated 817 positions through layoffs or other actions.

While lower than first announced, the Lingle job cuts were greater than those that occurred during the state's last mass layoff. Gov. Ben Cayetano tried to lay off 1,300 state workers to narrow a budget deficit in 1995; only about 150 workers were actually cut….

Overall, state government accounts for more than 70,000 jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics….

"That's just the way the labor force is structured under labor contracts," Brewbaker said. "The opportunity to create efficiency gains in many ways is thwarted by the structure of contracts."

There were 689 employees laid off, 83 who retired and 45 who voluntarily resigned, according to the state….

In addition to those laid off so far, the state Department of Human Services plans to lay off another 228 workers under a cost-cutting plan that takes effect on June 30. (Unless the HGEA’s Legislature kills it.)

(Taxes are increasing and HGEA is being fed. Unproductive senior placeholders are bumping productive junior employees, making the HGEA’s grip on the workforce stronger, and government less effective.)

Empire Builders at DoE--Staff change alarms parents (Hundreds of new Gov’t employees)

Sandy Goya, spokeswoman for the department, said the shift is part of a long-term effort to build internal capacity in the schools (Empire-building for bureaucracy & union.)

"They're never going to admit it, but it's the money, it's the financial situation," said Kristie Ibara, whose 4-year-old son Sage has autism and attends preschool at Hahaione Elementary in Hawaii Kai. "If it was in the best interests of the students, they wouldn't touch this area…..”

Many parents were alarmed to see a Craigslist ad from the DOE in February seeking paraprofessional tutors at $13.34 an hour, for up to 19 hours a week. They are afraid the new hires will not have autism-specific training or experience. And they say that assigning two part-timers to cover the school week will be stressful for autistic children who have trouble dealing with change in routine.

RELATED: DoE firing hundreds of Special Education skills trainers (HFP Feb 5, 2010)

High-tech tax credits under fire: Budget plan defers Act 221 for 3 years, raises tobacco levy (Dems can’t afford welfare for rich)

(For some reason ACT 221 beneficiaries are referred to in this article as “investors” instead of “welfare recipients”.)

Investors (sic) would not be able to use the technology infrastructure renovation credit or the high-technology business investment credit to offset their state tax liability for three years, which would save the state an estimated $93 million a year.

Lawmakers also agreed to repeal the technology tax credits in May, rather than at the end of December, which would save an additional $13 million.

Many investors (sic) are disappointed by the agreement and are considering legal action, arguing that lawmakers are suspending tax credits on investments (sic) that have already been made….

Jeffrey Au, the managing director of PacifiCap Management Inc., said investors (sic) put their money into projects with the expectation of receiving the tax credits as outlined in state law at the time.

He questioned whether lawmakers can retroactively change the terms of the tax credits without violating the due process clause in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

"It could create a huge cash-flow problem for some people," he said. (Yes, they might have to get an honest job.)

(Hawaii Democrats can no longer afford to dole out welfare to keep the rich dependent of the corporatist State. So sad. But this is probably a contract violation and a securities violation and the inevitable litigation could lead to many interesting revelations about who is benefitting from the corrupt ACT 215/221 giveaway.)

Room 309 (The Legislature now moves to get its real business done, in secret with only lobbyists and activists watching)

State House and Senate negotiators opened conference committee today on several tax-related bills and, as usual, Room 309 at the state Capitol was filled with lobbyists, advocates, staff and others who know that this is the time of the session where lawmakers move from talk to action.

Abercrombie and Hannemann vie for attention at convention (Study the meal plans for clues)

Debi Hartmann, Hawaii Democratic Party executive director noted that Abercrombie's campaign will pick up the tab for a delegates' breakfast on May 29.

"The Abercrombie campaign has been very active in regard to the state convention. The campaign has been very supportive of things; it shows that a person who could become titular head of the party is willing to demonstrate their generosity and support," Hartmann said. (Guess we know who SHE’s supporting.)

Hannemann's campaign might provide an alternative lunch to delegates.

"We are looking at other lunch options for you cheaper than the $52 luncheon offered by the party, so we leave it up to you if you want to register for the party lunch," a Hannemann memo to supporters said.

(So instead of picking up the tab, the Mufi supporters are left out in the cold. Sounds like there will be two factional meetings here. And it looks like Abercrombie expects to control the Party apparatus—such as it is--by the end of the convention. This would be a boost for those within the Dem org who want closed Primaries.)

Residents voice concerns over aquaculture project

Hawaii is the only state in the nation where open ocean aquaculture is permitted, said Mike Buchal, of Waimea. "Hawaii is helping develop national standards for aquaculture. The work here is pioneering," he said. "We need to take a step back from this and we should be glad small companies are doing this because it's going to happen."

(Which is why enviros are fighting this. They have a chance to shape US fish farming policy—or block fish farming-- by fighting this fish farm right here.)

Furloughs sit-in moves to Washington Place, protestors vow to stick around

Just a bunch of HSTA shills.

SB: Furlough foes vow to keep up pressure

Waters of Life School faces closure (HTH, ADV play catch-up to Hawai’i Free Press)

Waters of Life's school board is set to meet Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at St. Theresa Parish, 18-1355 Volcano Highway in Mountain View.

DETAILS: Out of money, Puna DoE school shutting down next week

State investment practices to be curbed: Law getting rewrite because $1.1B got tied up in market

The state Legislature is taking aim at an investment practice that resulted in the state treasury being left with about $1 billion of securities that it largely has been unable to sell.

The pending measure would restrict the state's further buying of so-called auction rate securities as a short-term investment.

SB: Senate asks for securities investigation

PDF: Read Senate Bill 2825

read more

Burris: Shifting prisoners to Mainland at best a short-term solution

Finding effective solutions toward keeping these people out of prison is long-range cheaper than sending them off to some for-profit prison warehouse on the Mainland.

Warehouse? Deal with reality. Here are five doses:

Former Kauai courts manager denies allegations: Barreira accused of sexual harassment

LIHU‘E — A current state court judge’s assistant at the Lihu‘e courthouse has in a lawsuit accused a former supervisor of sexual harassment, retaliation, defamation, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and damage to her marriage.

Leanne Rosa and husband Patrick Rosa are plaintiffs represented by attorney Mark Zenger, with accusations made against Ernest Barreira, former deputy chief court administrator for the state Judiciary’s 5th Circuit Court.

The civil suit was filed March 19.

Barreira, who served as best man in the Rosas’ 1996 wedding, in an e-mail statement denied all the allegations.

Chair also questions legality: Asing: Furloughs equal savings?

NAWILIWILI — County Council Chair Kaipo Asing said Friday he isn’t sure furloughs of county employees will equate to savings, and also is unsure whether or not furloughs are legal under current union contracts.

Thus the council’s review process of Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr.’s $146 million operating budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 began, at the new council chambers in the old Hale Kaua‘i building here.

Gendercide: China's shameful massacre of unborn girls means there will soon be 30m more men than women

Chinese local authorities fight hard to keep news of their failures out of the foreign Press.

They even chase after citizens who go to Peking to complain about their treatment, or to petition for help. Parents who had put up posters begging for news of their stolen children were shocked to find that officials immediately snatched them from walls.

On June 1 last year, International Children's Day, dozens of Kunming parents held up posters in a central square, advertising their missing children. City officials told them to take down the posters and disperse because they were 'defacing the city with unsightly material'.