Entries for February 2021

... bills introduced and votes in Congress ....

... “I am altering the deal.  Pray I don’t alter it any further.” ....

... the ALOHA homes program as currently envisioned in SB1 likely would result in an expensive, non-sustainable government project that would fail ....

... many tax increases, fees, and surcharges that have been proposed this legislative session. Hawaii residents are already among the most taxed in the country; the state has the second highest overall tax burden in the U.S. ....

... HIFICO rundown on Second Amendment related bills before Hawaii Legislature ....

... If policymakers wish to avoid imposing taxes on these small business lifelines  they need to act quickly, as tax deadlines are fast approaching ....

... to cost the State at least $19,000,000,000 ....

... SB839 Assisted Suicide Expansion Bill NARROWLY Passes Senate Judiciary ....

... Only two states had union membership rates over 20.0 percent in 2020: Hawaii (23.7 percent) and New York (22.0 percent) ....

... The registered nurses and other health care workers of Maui Health System reached a tentative contract agreement with MHS management just past 1:00 am HST Friday morning ....

... “Sharon then related that she was going to be the next governor but ‘this’ will mess up her plans.” ....

... Instead of creating more affordable homes, they reduce development and cause prices to go up ....

... delivering loan capital to small businesses having difficulty with access to financing ....

... This case achieved a lot of notoriety ....

... The General Plan is updated every 20 years ....

... In January, a total of 171,976 visitors traveled to Hawaii by air service, compared to 862,574 ....

"...allow additional flexibility for our schools beyond virtual options in bringing our graduates together for this momentous occasion...."

... every proposal in the 2021 Legislature that would increase Hawaii's tax burden ....

... Sen. Schatz opened today’s hearing by stating that one of his goals as chairman is to bring Native Hawaiian issues and priorities to the forefront ....

... In December, Hawaii had the highest unemployment rate among the states at 9.3%, followed by Nevada at an unemployment rate of 9.2%. Both of these rates are higher than the national unemployment rate of 6.7%....

... Only a little more than half of Honolulu residents surveyed consider the city and county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic to be effective ....

... monthly demand was 167,500 unit nights ....

... If So, Millions More Hawaiian Beneficiary Dollars Will Be Squandered ....

“...The Ninth Circuit… decides over 11,000 appeals each year....”

... an enhanced service providing text and email notifications for upcoming court hearings or event dates ....

“...Sovereignty is already happening now. We are educating our children. What we have in front of us doesn’t work....”

... The number of gambling measures introduced in the legislature rose whenever the state government encountered money problems ....

... February 22nd, the House Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs is hearing House Bill 534 House Draft 1, to improve the ability of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves and their loved ones ....

... Archaic Protectionism Is Set to Sink Alaska Cruises ....

... minimum wage hikes result in some workers seeing their wages rise, while many more lose gainful employment ....

... statewide RevPAR decreased to $58 ....

"... If there is no such thing as a regulatory taking, we should say so ...."

... in Full-Service Restaurants, most workers who earn minimum wage receive significantly more compensation in tips ....

... Where They Moved To: California, Texas and Washington ....

... upcoming hearings ....

... Federated States of Micronesia is one of the most advanced countries on Earth ....

... We need to start recognizing that this “dedicated funding source” rhetoric is taking us down the wrong path ....

... drugs, gambling, abortion ....

... The Department of Health will announce when sites are prepared to accept registration for this new age group ....

... When it comes to budgets and accounting, politicians have successfully convinced voters that the ordinary rules of fiscal accountability shouldn’t apply to government ....

... The governor’s continued exercise of extended unilateral power also has called into question the legality of the state’s emergency powers law ....

... The parcel is one of several not included on Blangiardi’s, June 8, 2020, Candidate Financial Disclosure form ....

...HB1271 dissolves the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) and transfers all its resource except the director to the Department of Agriculture....

... Waipahu ranks 256th in USA for 'ethnoracial diversity' ....

... Laissez les bon temps rouler! ....

... Walk-In Closing: Friday, February 19, 2021, 4:30 p.m. ....

... A 2012 study at Cornell University found that, when faced with a new soda tax, many households reduced their soda consumption while purchasing an increased amount of beer ....

... Last week we saw a glimmer of hope ....

... One of the nation’s leading 911 conspiracy theorists has been nominated to serve on the Maui County Charter Commission ....

... oversee more than 800 regular employees and a multi-million dollar budget used to maintain and improve the facilities of 304 designated park and garden locations on nearly 5,000 acres of land ....