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May 7, 2025 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 3:00 PM :: 295 Views

‘By Request’ Gambling Bill got John Mizuno Ousted as Homeless Czar?

Miske News: Union Boss sentenced to 14 years in federal racketeering case

Tax Hike Coming? Yamashita Ousted As Chair Of State House Finance Committee

CB: … One of the most powerful people in the Hawaiʻi Legislature was removed from his leadership position late Tuesday.

House Speaker Nadine Nakamura told the 51-member House in a memo that Rep. Kyle Yamashita has been replaced by Rep. Chris Todd to lead the powerful House Finance Committee. The change is effective Wednesday….

Yamashita’s signature accomplishment during his time as House Finance chair was last year’s state income tax cut, the largest in state history. That income tax cut will increase in a series of steps, with each step reducing state tax collections.

The tax cut initially reduced state tax collections by about $240 million this fiscal year, and that amount will increase to about $600 million next year. The reduction in state revenue because of the tax cut will reach more than $1 billion by fiscal year 2029.

Todd has said “basic math” dictates lawmakers will have to find some way to recoup some of that lost tax revenue, suggesting last year’s tax cut may have gone too far….

Lawmakers are expected to return for a special session as early as August to respond to the changing fiscal situation in Washington, where President Donald Trump’s policies are already causing panic (which can be exploited to raise taxes) ….

SA: Hawaii House Finance chairperson Kyle Yamashita ousted | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

SA: Off the news: Yamashita replaced as House Finance chair | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

CB: An Inside Look At The Sudden Shake-Up In House Leadership - Honolulu Civil Beat

HNN: Speaker: House Finance Committee headed in 'new direction' after Yamashita replaced as chair | News | kitv.com

read … Yamashita Ousted As Chair Of State House Finance Committee - Honolulu Civil Beat

Legislators reward selves handsomely

SA: … This has definitely not been a landmark year for good-government bills — though it’s shaping up to be a pretty darn good year for elected officials.

Biting the dust were bills to prohibit campaign donations from executives or others, including relatives, with ties to companies holding state contracts; and to fund or support public campaign financing. Preserved was the “pay to play” status quo at the Legislature that props up entrenched politicos who can sway contracts to the detriment of the public interest. Auwe!

Meanwhile, legislators treated themselves to a nice perk, making law that allows campaign funds to be spent for child care; graciously accepted “automatic” raises amounting to a total 48% pay increase over six years; and exempted themselves from tighter rules on lobbying….

read … Editorial: Legislators reward selves handsomely | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Closed House Committee Meetings Violate Constitution?

TGI: … The fundamental questions seemed fairly straightforward. Did a specific House Advisory Committee meet privately for the purpose of making a decision on a matter before them, and thus violate the Constitution?

And is this a regular practice of other House Committees?

The plaintiffs’ position was a clear and resounding YES to both questions.

The House, on the other hand, never directly answered either one.

Remember, Article 3 Section 12, paragraph 3 of the Hawaii State Constitution states, “Every meeting of a committee in either house or of a committee comprised of a member or members from both houses held for the purpose of making decision on matters referred to the committee shall be open to the public.”

The House’s position, per its attorney: The Constitutional provision does not apply to the House Advisory Committee because it was formed for “organizational purposes” and committees formed for such purposes are not required to hold public meetings….

read … HOOSER: Acasio v Hawaii House — What happened on May 1? - The Garden Island

Inside Brian Schatz’s inner circle

PN: … In 2023, Schatz hired Reema Dodin, his chief of staff and a key player for the Hawaii Democrat.

Dodin was Durbin’s floor director for eight years and eventually became the Illinois Democrat’s deputy chief of staff. She worked for Durbin for a total of 15 years and wrote a book on Senate procedure in 2017. Dodin left the Senate in 2021 to serve as President Joe Biden’s deputy legislative affairs director, returning to the Hill two years later as Schatz’s chief.

Rounding out Schatz’s top aides are Malia Oshima Paul, deputy chief of staff; Mike Inacay, deputy chief and communications director; Arun Revana, legislative director; and Roberto Berrios, deputy legislative director and senior counsel. All have lengthy ties to Schatz.

Paul is based in Hawaii and is Schatz’s longest-serving Senate staffer. Inacay has been with Schatz for more than a decade. Revana is Schatz’s longtime top policy aide, having served in a similar role for the late Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii). Berrios previously oversaw Senate confirmations for the Biden White House….

Lori LaFave is Schatz’s chief fundraising consultant. LaFave’s other clients include Durbin and Senate Majority PAC, the Democratic leadership-aligned super PAC. Both of these provide critical donor networks.

Schatz’s campaign account has nearly $1.8 million cash on hand, although he isn’t up for reelection until 2028.

Schatz’s campaign committee gave $450,000 to the DSCC late last cycle. His leadership PAC, Hawaii PAC, gave another $80,000, according to FEC records, while also spreading around tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations to Democratic candidates nationwide….

read … Inside Brian Schatz’s inner circle

Big Island journalist on uncovering the housing corruption case set for trial

HPR: … Three years ago, a county housing story published by the monthly newsletter Environment Hawaiʻi caught the eye of federal law enforcement agents.

An FBI investigation led to indictments of several Hawaiʻi Island residents. Alan Scott Rudo, a former Hawaiʻi County housing official, pleaded guilty to taking bribes and is awaiting sentencing.

Three others, including Hawaiʻi Island attorneys Paul Joseph Sulla Jr. and Gary Charles Zamber, go to trial next week in Honolulu's federal court before Judge Jill Otake….

read … Big Island journalist on uncovering the housing corruption case set for trial | Hawai'i Public Radio

‘Where’s the money?’ Applicants wait for funds from Maui County program to help build ‘ohana housing

MN: … when the family heard about the Maui County ‘Ohana Assistance Pilot Project that was offering up to $100,000 to help people build ‘ohana units, Claude Moreau said: “We were all excited.”

They secured a building permit, applied for the program, and then they waited. And waited.

“It never happened,” Moreau told the Maui County Council last month. “We never got the money, and we’ve been trying for months and months to figure out what’s going on. What’s the story? Where’s the money?”

The Moreaus are among dozens of applicants who sought help through the program and have yet to see the funds. 

Housing Director Richard Mitchell told the council in an April 11 letter that county attorneys are working on the legal documents so the department can distribute the money, but he did not give a timeline. 

“The Department will be able to proceed with issuing grants as soon as Corporation Counsel approves the final documents,” Mitchell said in an email to the Hawai‘i Journalism Initiative on Friday. “The Department has advised applicants to proceed with building their Ohanas, if possible, until the program documents have been approved.”

But Susie Thieman, executive director of the nonprofit Lokahi Pacific that was contracted last year to help the county vet applicants, said that wasn’t the point of the program, and she worries the major investment could set back local families who were counting on the help.

“You want them to go out and borrow money to build this on the basis that you say at some point in time, they’re going to get reimbursed?” she said….

read … ‘Where’s the money?’ Applicants wait for funds from Maui County program to help build ‘ohana housing : Maui Now

Hawaii’s first psychiatric crisis center helps take burden off ERs, police

HNN: … A multimillion-dollar complex in the heart of Iwilei is now a lifeline for people facing serious mental health challenges….

read … Hawaii’s first psychiatric crisis center helps take burden off ERs, police

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