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Monday, September 27, 2010

September 27, 2010 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 3:08 PM :: 13335 Views

Aiona accepts eight debate invitations, Abercrombie declines two

Aiona Video: How can Hawaii rediscover the path toward good-paying jobs?

HCF: Clear lack of vision at the Board of Education

Hanabusa voted to make Hawaii #1 in high taxes

Abercrombie finally cornered into debating, Shapiro spins furiously

Spokesman Jim McCoy said Abercrombie turned down HNN and KHON mainly because he …uh… appeared in their debates in the primary and wanted to be fair and give KITV and PBS Hawaii a chance in the general.

(So Abercrombie gets to skip debates in the general because he appeared in the Democratic Primary, and Duke has no right to complain about Abercrombie skipping debates because Duke didn’t participate in the Democratic Primary debates. More of the arrogant logic of the one-party system.)

Abercrombie had earlier released all of his policy initiatives at once in a 45-page booklet called “A New Day in Hawaii” and was disappointed in the news coverage it got; Aiona got better media attention by spreading it over several events.

But he distracted attention from his substantive proposals by using each occasion to carp at Abercrombie for not accepting his proposal for six televised debates, making that the story — and not necessarily a favorable one for the lieutenant governor.

(So, in summary. When the Abercrombie arrogantly proclaims “Its not my job” to participate in gubernatorial debates, Aiona is “tarnished” by calling attention to it. If anyone believes this, I have some beautiful ocean view lots for sale in Royal Gardens. Red hot deals! A river runs through it, you know….)

REALITY: Gubernatorial Debates? Abercrombie says “It’s not my job”

KITV: Republican and Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates to Square Off at Several Forums

Maui News: Abercrombie, Aiona agree to 2 debates, many forums

HGEA Refuses to endorse molester’s employer Rep Rida Cabanilla for HD 42

While at the same time calling for the reelection of transsexual BoE member Mr Kim Coco Iwamoto and calling for voters to reject the consotutional amendment for an appointed BoE.

read more>>>HGEA ENDORSEMENTS

Civil unions may be unspoken issue in governor’s race

But the two major candidates to succeed Lingle in December, with just more than five weeks before the Nov. 2 general election, are signaling little desire to focus attention on the issue.

''It's about strengthening our economy, it's about jobs and it's about education, and that's our priority,'' said Republican Lt. Gov. James ''Duke'' Aiona, who strongly opposed the bill Lingle vetoed, which would have given same-sex couples similar rights to married couples.

''I don't think that's going to be an issue,'' said Democrat Neil Abercrombie, a former congressman who just as fervently supports civil unions. ''It's not an issue in the sense that suddenly somebody's going to discover anything new.''

But longtime political analyst Dan Boylan said civil unions at least will be a campaign subtext, particularly among conservative religious leaders who have organized anti-civil unions rallies at the state Capitol. Aiona attended one of those in January.

''The pastors care about this. The Catholic Church cares about this. They talk about it with their congregations,'' said Boylan, a retired history professor.

Garret Hashimoto, chairman of the Hawaii Christian Coalition, said it doesn't matter how much the issue is debated by the candidates. His group and its allies know Aiona opposes civil unions and will do everything possible to get him elected, he said.

''It is the total Christian community - (Hawaii) Family Forum, Christian Coalition, other Christian organizations out there. We're all strongly behind Aiona,'' Hashimoto said.

Kalapa: Greatest issues are economy, business climate

As the war of words heats up during this year's campaign season, it appears one of the most important issues to Hawaii voters is being lost in the shuffle of the debate over issues like civil unions, racism and experience.

More RTTT money being spent on teachers’ salaries

Meanwhile, about 70 percent of math classes and 77 percent of language arts classes in public schools are taught by highly qualified teachers, far short of the 100 percent mandated under the federal No Child Left Behind law.

"Teach for America, as well as other alternative programs, they fill that void," Nozoe said. "They provide us with a talent pool. We know we're going to need their candidates."

In its Race to the Top grant proposal, the DOE said it would work with Teach for America to "focus teacher recruitment efforts" to meet shortage areas.

(That’s more RTTT money not being spent on incentive programs based on student performance. No surprise.)

City's $30M overrun a warning about sloppy management

A contract initiated in the final months of the Frank Fasi administration in 1994 to install a police radio system was intended to be completed in three years at a cost of $34 million. It ended up $30 million overbudget, at a cost of $64.8 million, and took 11 years -- through the Jeremy Harris terms and halfway through the Mufi Hannemann administration -- to complete the 800 megahertz system. That expenditure of tax dollars amounts to more than one-third of the entire annual operating budget of the Hono-lulu Police Department.

Utah and Four-Day Workweeks

James "Duke" Aiona has brought up the idea of four-day workweeks for state employees as part of his campaign platform….

But a performance audit of the Working 4 Utah Initiative could not determine how productivity was impacted, and found that savings attributed to the program were overstated.

(Fascinating. But Aiona made the proposal as a means to alleviate traffic, not based on productivity increase.)

Caldwell to sign off on fireworks limits

“We're going to review it carefully to make sure it's legally correct, and if it's correct I'm inclined to sign it," Caldwell said. A legal vetting is standard for all bills that go to him for signature, he said.

Fair Elections Now Act could help make Congress accountable to us, the conscious, enlightened, and progressive

Common Cause: Last Thursday, a U.S. House of Representatives committee passed the Fair Elections Now Act, and the bill could be on the House floor before Friday. The legislation has broad, bipartisan, and cross-caucus support of 164 House members and 25 senators, including Sen. Akaka and Rep. Mazie Hirono. Sen. Inouye and Rep. Charles Djou have not taken a position on the bill.

Hawaii Supreme Court reinstates convicted drug dealer’s law license

Thomas LePage was suspended from practicing law in November 2001 for one year and one day because of a 2001 felony conviction for promotion of a dangerous drug. When the suspension expired in November 2002 he was disbarred from practicing law.
The court issued an order of reinstatement for LePage on Sept. 14.

Roberts buses involved in 5 deaths

Roberts Hawaii, the state's largest tours and transportation company, has seen a spike in fatal collisions recently, making up 40 percent of all fatal commercial vehicle collisions so far this year and 30 percent last year.

ONE YEAR LATER: Rebuilding continues on ruined homes in Samoa

In American Samoa, it may be years before the physical scars caused by Mother Nature's fury disappear. Leone was one of the villages hardest hit by the tsunami. It sits right along the water. And an area that was once buzzing with activity, is now mostly abandoned.