Gov. Ige urged to review new research before deciding on minimum-wage hike
Questions persist about viability of Honolulu rail
Legislative Session: 50-50 for Small Business
Unemployment Bounce Back? Hawaii Ranks 48th
Cayetano Donors Unleash first negative ads in race for governor
KHON: A newly formed Super PAC has begun running negative ads featuring the local comedy duo “Da Braddahs” attacking Lt. Gov. Josh Green’s credentials as a physician….
While the ads are correct that Green is not board certified, board certification isn’t necessary to practice medicine in Hawaii.
The Hawaii Medical Association said Friday:
“Lt. Gov. Josh Green ... is fully-credentialed to practice emergency medicine, has practiced medicine in Hawaii for over 20 years, and was trained in family medicine with decades of experience as an emergency room physician,” the HMA said.
The association added that Green has been named its physician of the year twice — most recently this year for his work during the COVID pandemic.
The political action committee Victory Calls 2022 is spending more than $34,000 over the next week and a half airing the political commercials on local television stations….
… the PAC’s biggest contributors — local chef Daniel Delbrel, businessman Wallace Tsuha and Charlyn Masini — are also individual donors to Green’s Democratic opponent Vicky Cayetano.
read … First negative ads in race for governor air, but political experts think they’ll backfire
Lawmaker who introduced bail reform bill now asking Ige to veto it
HNN: … The lawmaker who introduced a bill that would allow some non-violent defendants to be free without bail as they await trial is now asking the governor to veto it.
State Rep. Scot Matayoshi says the bill was introduced to address unfairness within the bail system….
After hearing from opponents of House Bill 1567, Matayoshi now agrees the bill was too broad.
“Maybe what we need to do is to come back with a bill that instead of creating exemptions creates or enumerates the exact crimes that this bill will apply to so we can avoid any of the ones that might endanger the public in the future,” he said…..
read … Lawmaker who introduced bail reform bill now asking Ige to veto it
SB3289: Advocates will be back for ‘Opt-out’ Again and Again until They Get it
SA Editorial: … Senate Bill 3289, which establishes a new Hawaii Retirement Savings Program. It would be a state-facilitated payroll-deduction retirement savings plan, offered to private-sector employees who don’t have access to any employer-sponsored retirement plans.
It’s an opt-in model, unfortunately, which means employees would not automatically be enrolled but would need to sign up. Ideally an opt-out model, which requires the worker to decide not to participate, would be most effective to help people save toward retirement. And they should….
Senate Bill 3289 rolls out the program in phases over a couple of years: First would come an implementation and evaluation study, followed by a strategy and timetable, then actual implementation. For 2022-2023, $1.25 million is allocated for the program’s launch to include hiring of an executive director and several staffers; $1 million for outreach and education on the retirement savings program; and $25 million into a special fund, so the state can match $500 for the first 50,000 employees participating n the program.
Employers should incur no costs — but they would be the conduit via payroll deduction for workers to access the retirement program, which will involve at least a Roth IRA.
read .. Another way to get an IRA
After Four Years DoH finally gets around to revoking care home license
KHON: … A community care foster home had its license revoked by the Hawaii State Department of Health Office of Health Care Assurance (OHCA) after failing to meet administrative rules.
Between 2017-2020, four inspections found that Mr. Herbet Sales, the operator of the Community Care Foster Home located on 94-1112 Lumikula Street, left patients unattended in violation of the Hawaii Administrative Rules.
Following each inspection, Sales submitted a corrective plan, but did not adhere to the plan, OCHA claimed. Sales was ordered to immediately transfer and discharge all clients from home, cease operating, and pay an administrative penalty.
According to reports, the home can provide living accommodations and care for up to two adults….
read … Waipahu Community Care Home has license revoked by Hawaii Health officials
US class action over alleged ‘greenwashed’ sunscreen
SMH: … A popular Australian sun-care and cosmetics business named after the nation’s most famous beach has been hit with a class action in the United States over claims its sunscreens are harmful to the environment, despite its claims to be “reef friendly”.
Court documents from the case include photographs of bottles of Bondi Sands sunscreen bearing the phrase “reef friendly”.CREDIT:
Bondi Sands, founded a decade ago in Melbourne, has been accused in court documents of “greenwashing” its sunscreens by falsely marketing them to US consumers as safe to the environment.
The class action complaint filed in the US District Court in northern California claims that Bondi Sands’ US operation has “reaped millions of dollars through this fraudulent scheme based on a calculated business decision to put profits over people and the environment”….
read … US class action over alleged ‘greenwashed’ sunscreen
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