SB1434: Universal Vax for Hawaii
SB1278: Legislature poised to fix a state wrong?
Hawaii Family Forum Legislative Week in Review
“It’ll be the same old suspects — just in better suits.”
Shapiro: … Council Chair Tommy Waters and Vice Chair Esther Kia‘aina reneged on promises to push for banning outside employment by Council members after they got the 64% raise.
Hawaii’s Legislature has made a habit of taking outsize pay raises at inopportune times.
They took 33% in the middle of the Great Recession when other state employees faced furloughs, and another 25% a few years later.
Now they appear inclined to accept a Salary Commission recommendation of 32% raises in 2026 and 44% over five years.
This just as the state Council on Revenue warns of economic pain and severe state budget shortfalls as a result of radical federal spending cuts.
Legislative raises are tied to those of state administrators and judges; if legislators reject theirs, increases of up to 32% for administrators and judges die as well….
They also claim higher pay will attract more and better candidates, but in the first Council election after the 64% raise, all four incumbents were either unopposed or faced light competition.
As Roberts put it in the Arizona Republic, “It’ll be the same old suspects — just in better suits.”…
read … David Shapiro: A Copper State parable for Hawaii pols’ gold lust | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Lawmakers Likely To Let Big Pay Raises Take Effect Without Public Hearings
CB: … There is still time for the Legislature to hold public hearings on proposed raises for lawmakers, judges, the governor and other state officials, but there is a good chance any further objections from the public will be smothered.
The state Salary Commission, which itself is made up of former and current public officials, has recommended a package of raises that range from 35% to 48% over six years for the Legislature and other state leaders. Most of those raises will automatically take effect starting July 1 unless the Legislature votes to reject them….
(That means the next six weeks will be an opportunity for pretend opposition.)
read … Lawmakers Likely To Let Big Pay Raises Take Effect Without Public Hearings - Honolulu Civil Beat
As Usual, Ethics Reform Bills Die in Committee
CB: … House Judiciary Chair David Tarnas is one of those seeing the writing on the wall and last week made it clear comprehensive public financing of campaigns for anyone who agrees not to take private donations is just not happening. Tarnas killed Senate Bill 51, but he was much more enthusiastic about a plan to put more money into the state’s existing program that partially pays for campaigns. The problem has been the money just hasn’t been enough to attract solid candidates willing to forgo private donations.
“Let’s see if we can take this all the way to the finish line,” Tarnas told the handful of advocates who showed up to testify at the hearing. (Lot of written testimony though.)
After deferring SB 51 Tarnas replaced the partial public financing measure, Senate Bill 345, with the House’s version of the bill, House Bill 370, which crossed over to the Senate where it is awaiting a hearing….
…. House Bill 772, which would have ended the candidate-to-candidate giving that’s currently allowed when one politician uses campaign funds to purchase up to two tickets to another politician’s fundraiser.
Those ticket-buying “contributions” can total up to $2,000 for House candidates, $4,000 for Senate candidates and $6,000 for statewide candidates.
A total of $386,038 changed hands this way during the 2024 election period, according to the Campaign Spending Commission.
Government reformists have been trying to eliminate this practice for years. And this year the bill died again, without a hearing in the House Finance Committee.
And, little wonder, the powerful chair of that committee, Rep. Kyle Yamashita, is a frequent user of this ticket-buying method of sharing the wealth.
During the 2022 and 2024 election cycles, Yamashita’s campaign committee contributed $46,250 through ticket purchases to 22 other candidates….
read … The Sunshine Blog: Not Enough Money To Get Money Out Of Politics? - Honolulu Civil Beat
Lava buyouts program is winding down
HTH: … The Voluntary Housing Buyout Program launched in 2021 to offer residents whose properties were damaged, destroyed or isolated by the 2018 Kilauea eruption. After four years since it launched — and seven years following eruption — the program is winding down, with more than 750 applicants having completed or are still undertaking the buyout process….
County Recovery spokeswoman Jen Myers confirmed the program should have completed most of its buyouts by the end of 2025, although this depends on the remaining properties moving through the process efficiently, and with applicants responding in a timely manner.
The program accepted applicants in three phases. The first, highest-priority phase was for owners of primary residences impacted by the eruption. There were 311 applicants for that phase.
As of February, only three phase one applications remained open, with the rest having been bought out.
Phase two applicants were those with secondary homes impacted by the eruption, with about 200 applicants, while phase three was for owners of vacant land, about 300 of whom applied.
As of February, there were 41 phase two and 282 phase three applications still open.
Myers said via email that the program has had to contend with “the complexities of title issues, probate situations, and unique property cases” which have slowed the process down. Previously, the program was expected to close its last buyouts by the end of 2024.
The program had an initial budget of $83.8 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. As the program went on and the number of applicants grew, the maximum payout for phase three applicants was reduced from $230,000 to $22,000.
Myers said via email she estimates the program should be able to serve all eligible phase three applicants with some amount of federal funds.
Meanwhile, the future of the bought-out properties remains uncertain….
read … Lava buyouts program is winding down
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