Best States to Start a Business? Hawaii 50th
Hawaiian Legislative Report Card Released
Ray L’Heureux Should Have Been Included in Republican Debate
Cocaine Dealer’s Wife Raises $139K in Council Bid
CB: …with Martin term-limited out and three other council members up for re-election this year, voters will determine which council faction will hold sway next. The results will affect Caldwell’s ability to execute his agenda during his remaining two years as mayor….Disagreements between the two groups in the nine-member City Council have often been shrill but not always consequential on many hot-button issues, including rail, homelessness and affordable housing….
Four are vying to fill Martin’s spot representing District 2 covering the North Shore, and he appears to have primed Heidi Tsuneyoshi as his preferred successor. Tsuneyoshi worked for eight years in Martin’s office, first as community liaison and then as senior advisor.
But Robert “Bobby” Bunda stands in her way. With almost three decades in the Legislature under his belt, Bunda has name recognition.
The two are almost dead-even when it comes to raising money: Bunda’s campaign has $136,500 on hand and Tsuneyoshi’s has $139,000. Bunda raised $82,800 in the last six months of last year to Tsuneyoshi’s $72,700, according to the most recently available data from the Campaign Spending Commission. The public won’t know how much they or other council candidates raised during the first half of this year until after the July 12 deadline for filing new campaign spending reports.
It’s hard to say where Bunda’s allegiances will lie if elected. He’s made campaign contributions in the past to Caldwell, Martin and Menor….
Related: Former Cocaine Dealer’s Wife Running for Honolulu Council
read … The Struggle For Power In Honolulu Is Coming To A Head
Sam King for OHA Trustee
CB: …There are seven candidates running for the Oahu seat:
Francine Kanani Murray and Leona Kalima both worked at OHA for many years…
Kalei Akaka works at Kamehameha Schools and wants to extend the legacy of her grandfather, the late U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka.
Jackie Kaho’okele Burke says she has run for OHA at least four times…
Paul Mossman is calling for the creation of a Native Hawaiian corporation similar to Alaska Native corporations.
Esther Kia’aina’s ties with the Interior Department mean many expect her to support the federal recognition of Hawaiians…
Sam Wilder King III is running on a platform of accountability and transparency, echoing the conservative message of Keli’i Akina that helped Akina upset incumbent Haunani Apoliona two years ago.
King is an attorney at Hawaii Medical Service Association who says he decided to run after a state audit lambasted OHA for misspending in February. King says one of the biggest differences between him and Kia’aina is that one of his top priorities is getting rid of Crabbe.
“I’m going to be pushing for a CEO that is just a new fresh face,” he said, criticizing Crabbe’s record as head of OHA’s research department. “It’s time for a change, it’s time to re-evaluate and get back to basics.”
Like Akina, King disagrees with race-based government. Like Apo, King supports the TMT. King says money that would go to self-government efforts should be spent on issues like education.
“Limited government, responsible spending, that’s what OHA needs,” King said, noting that he’s been a fiduciary on his homeowners’ association for the past four years….
read … Sam King for OHA
Doug Chin was Lobbyist for CCA Private Prisons
FB: Congressional Candidate Doug Chin shows up as registered lobbyist for CoreCivic (fka Correction Corporations of America) which runs many of the immigrant child detention centers and are responsible for the separation of Native Hawaiian families, look familiar??
read … Guess who shows up as registered lobbyist for CoreCivic (fka Correction Corporations of America)
HEMIC: We Will Not Buy Weed for Oxy Addicts
SA: Hawaii’s workers’ compensation insurers are grappling with reimbursements for medical marijuana claims that are slowly trickling in as more doctors certify patients to use cannabis as an alternative to opioids.
The Hawaii Employers’ Mutual Insurance Co., otherwise known as HEMIC, the state’s largest provider of workers’ comp insurance, approved payment June 4 for one gram of marijuana flower and one bottle of cannabidiol per week to treat a patient with dizziness, headaches, concussion, a lumbar spine strain and major depressive disorder, according to documents obtained by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
After receiving calls from the Star-Advertiser, asking whether the approval marked a change in HEMIC’s policy against paying for medical marijuana, the insurer rescinded the approval June 25.
“This week we were made aware of an isolated incident that was the result of miscommunication about HEMIC’s policy regarding medical cannabis reimbursements for workers’ compensation claimants. After the situation was brought to our attention, we immediately denied the treatment plan and took the necessary steps to ensure that this type of situation does not happen again,” said HEMIC CEO Marty Welch in a statement to the newspaper. “HEMIC does not reimburse for medical cannabis for workers’ compensation claimants. The medical fee schedule under Hawaii’s workers’ compensation law follows the Federal Medicare fee schedule, which affords no reimbursement for medical cannabis.”…
The Oahu patient, who was approved then later denied payment for marijuana, said she will appeal the denial because it is a legitimate medication for her ailments. (Translation: The lawyers and dopers will find a judge who will order HEMIC to pay for their dope. Your workers comp rates will go up.) The 38-year-old mother of four (don’t forget apple pie and baseball), who asked not to be identified by name, is hoping cannabis can replace the opioids she’s been taking since 2014 after (insert excuse here)…
read … Insurer rescinds pot payout
Don’t Veto The New Police Certification Board
CB: …Gov. David Ige this week signaled his intent to veto long-overdue and hard-won legislation that would create a statewide law enforcement standards and training board, an independent entity that would have the authority to certify police officers and, more importantly, revoke their certifications if necessary.
Hawaii is the only state — the only state — that lacks a statewide board like this and some lawmakers have been pushing for it for years. This year, the Legislature unanimously — unanimously — finally put it in place.
And now the governor says he’s going to veto it. Unbelievable….
Related: DLNR Finally Gets Around to Firing Rapist Cop Son of HGEA President
read … Don’t Veto The New Police Certification Board
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