Entries for October 2011

• House: Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act
• House: Modify Income Calculation for Eligibility for Certain Health Programs
• House: Government Contractor Withholding Repeal Act

Waipahu native Army Pfc. Edward Barut and his team successfully overcame a 45-minute complex attack in which insurgents used rocket propelled grenades, small arms fire and improvised explosive devices.

The six most improved states include Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska, Alabama, Maryland, and Tennessee.

It's yet another inauspicious announcement the Obama Administration didn't want you to hear. Late on Friday, the White House announced that it ordered an independent review of loans made by the Department of Energy to energy companies after months of weathering criticism for its $528 million loan to the now-bankrupt Solyndra solar panel company.

Dan Inouye’s Akaka Bill sneak attack was smacked down in December, 2009 and again in December, 2010—but he’s back for one more try.

For the past nine years Honolulu officials have paid publicly professed cockfighters a total of $480,000 in taxpayer dollars to respond to loose and nuisance fowl complaints....

Employees currently may take up to 26 weeks fully paid sick leave each year. The company's offer provides up to 8 weeks fully-paid sick leave annually....

Tax experts, public finance gurus, and public administrators preach that a good tax system is one that has a broad base that will allow a low rate to be imposed.

This is what happens to people who believe in Anthropogenic Global Warming.

Attempting to "fact check" an opinion is a fool's errand.

I’m writing this on the 44th anniversary of the execution of that poster-boy of “social justice”, Dr. “Che” Guevara, viewing articles of the Occupy Wall Street demonstrators in Hawaii and the mainland.

By 1861, the United States had developed a close relationship with the Kingdom of Hawaii, especially economically, diplomatically and culturally. The hundreds of Pacific Islanders who swore oaths of allegiance to the United States or the Confederacy and who fought in service of their cause will also be discussed.

What if you are in Hawaii and you need 15 days of hospital care instead of 10? Apparently you must pay out of your own pocket or forgo needed care.

As a result of the enrollment process which is already beginning under Act 195, I am now reviewing my bill and looking for ways to streamline it.

To avoid having to borrow from the federal government again, Governor Abercrombie approved an agreement between the DLIR and the Department of Budget & Finance that temporarily allows the DLIR to replenish the Unemployment Trust Fund from the State treasury....

The Obama administration is hoping to build on the momentum of recent free-trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama as attention turns to the Trans-Pacific Partnership and trade promotion authority.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) will reduce its Child Welfare Services (CWS) contracts with community providers and the University of Hawaii by $5.8 million beginning Dec. 1, 2011.

The 39-story United Nations headquarters stands on the banks of the East River in Manhattan. But now the U.N. is planning the construction of a new building next door, with a price tag pegged at $400 million -- and it could soar even higher. 

...the City's rail construction budget is limited to their using what they can get from the city's ½ percent addition to the GE Tax...On the other hand, they can use all they want for operating subsidies from the General Fund....

Charles and his likely opponent in the next election, Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, are effectively tied in their favorability ratings at 42% and Hanabusa has the lowest favorability rating of all the members of the Hawaii congressional delegation....

There is a better-than-usual chance that the Supreme Court will agree to review the case, since the Ninth Circuit’s decision squarely conflicts with decisions by the California and Texas Supreme Courts....

“We must address the soaring costs of healthcare,” said Governor Neil Abercrombie. “Changing the way our Medicaid programs operate is an important step toward the healthcare transformation we need in Hawai‘i.”

...

(lt-to-rt) lobbyist Michael McKeon, attorney Lance Boldrey, Gov. John Waihee & Detroit Syndicator Michael J. Malik

What is the American idea? That all depends on whom you ask. According to President Barack Obama, it's the notion that the federal government is the answer to America's problems....

The large “reset” payoff requires America put it all on the line by cutting U.S. strategic nuclear forces and engaging in missile defense talks with Russia, in addition to abandoning missile defense deployment in Poland and the Czech Republic and keeping quiet about political freedom violations running rampant throughout Russia.

Clark's topic of discussion is: "IJ Case Stories and How and Why They Take These No Fee Cases". Nicole will discuss the "History of Women in the Liberty Movement in America and How Government Hurts Women".

California and Florida have already passed Iran debarment legislation, adapted from UANI model legislation....

Census data released in September revealed the statistical proof behind what millions had already known....

Alabama was the state with the least competitive health insurance market and had two insurance companies controlling roughly 95 percent of the marketplace. In order, the next nine states with the least competitive health insurance markets were Alaska, Delaware, Michigan, Hawaii, Washington DC, Nebraska, North Carolina, Indiana and Maine.

“The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is bringing over 100 of its top recruits to Washington on Wednesday for a day of training and meeting with top Democratic officials as they prepare their candidates for next year's election cycle in their hopes of taking back the House.”

There is no hiding the ball in the President's populist pitch--and that ball is Obama's desire to circumvent Congress and enact policies that appeal to his far-left, big-government base....

On September 17, 2011, while Tea Parties and the rest of America celebrated the Constitution’s 224th birthday, Occupy Wall Street began its bivouac....

Once again, suicide activists from the mainland are here to push their deadly agenda using smoke and mirrors.

...Lingle said she expects to be one of the lawmakers called upon to serve in Gang of 12-like arrangements, where bipartisan groups of senators bridge political gaps to tackle the largest problems....

Read this news release and see if you can identify even one single accomplishment.

But the Middle East teaches caution; much will probably go wrong in Libya and Iraq. Obama, I predict, will rue his rash boasts.

Rail will consume about 20 MW of energy which is about 20% of the capacity of HECO’s new palm oil plant. Unfortunately peak rail travel coincides with peak demand for electricity around 6 PM....

The House is scheduled to vote this week on a bill to repeal a 3 percent withholding requirement on government contractor payments.

Despite the massive financial problems, Rep. Marumoto has pledged to fight the pension tax as well as several other taxes that would heavily impact senior citizens.

A joint House and Senate Committee on Human Services will hold an informational briefing on elder abuse and financial exploitation on Thursday, October 27 at 1:00 p.m. at the Hawaii State Capitol, Conference Room 329....

...the program which created Solyndra is set to quietly impose billions of dollars of losses on taxpayers, all of which will be hidden from the federal budget thanks to a massive accounting gimmick....

Hirono holds a 0% rating from the National Right to Life Committee, indicating she has not cast even one pro-life vote in her entire career in the House.

Obama's announcement last week that American troops in Iraq will return by the end of the year is a result of a serious Obama Administration failure that will undermine U.S. security interests in the Middle East

...for every $1.00 spent on solar projects, less than $0.51 of electricity will be produced over the life cycle of the projects....

...in the rush to encourage all sorts of new technologies, the legislation left the “barn door” wide open to interpretation and application that it appears to have opened the flood gates in allowing all sorts of claims to be filed and awarded....

...motion for summary judgment in the case which seeks disclosure of the JSC list from the Governor....

Neil Abercrombie has assumed the dubious distinction of 'most unpopular Governor in the country' in PPP's polling. Only 30% of voters now approve of him to 56% disapproving. That represents a 33 point decline in his net approval since March, when PPP found him at 48/41.

...coral reefs provide valuable ecological services for U.S. residents, regardless of whether they actually use them....