Entries for March 2019

...four material weaknesses and ten significant deficiencies in internal control over compliance with major federal programs....

... weekly update from GovTrack.us ....

...Suicide Prevention and Palliative Care bills still moving....

...Utility bills have dropped ranging from less than a dollar a month for the average residential customer in Hawaii to about $14 for the same group in Florida....

...The AOC requires Big Island Dairy owners to terminate their dairy operations, remove all their cows from confinement on the site, clean and remove the existing wastewater system, and pay $79,000 by June of 2019....

...The application must be postmarked or delivered on or before the application deadline of Thursday, June 27, 2019....

...Before the ink was dry on those judgments, the Department of Taxation produced additional assessments against the taxpayers, this time on car rental commissions....

...Hawaii lawmakers are considering a myriad of new tax increases in order to pay for their spending plans, but instead they should clamp down on their spending so tax hikes aren’t needed....

...Stress tests help validate increases in state, worker contributions....

...The Hawaii Rifle Association today filed a lawsuit challenging Hawaii’s extreme requirement that a concealed carry license can only be issued in “urgent” or “exceptional” instances.... 

“…the court finds as a matter of law that OHA owns, and has authority and control over the operation and management of the LLC’s operations….”

...Trustees now have an opportunity to address the Spending Policy, and other financial policies that are under review....

...Hawaii Visitor Statistics Released for February 2019....

...We found that DAGS fundamentally misunderstands its responsibilities under Act 1, performing unnecessary busy work that not only wastes time and money but also increases the risk of improper payment....

...We already have a good stadium.  And this consultant now admits Aloha Stadium is located in the best possible place.  So why tear it down for yet another unnecessary boondoggle?....

...a byzantine structure of taxes and fees, with effective tax rates on consumers often exceeding 30 percent....

“Would you accept a rate increase to modernize the grid? How much of an increase? What about a 5%, 10%, 15% increase to your current bill?”

...Among the projects approved is Hoohana Solar 1 in Kunia, which is planned for a parcel zoned as prime agricultural land, where renewable energy projects are currently not permitted....

...The new term for the Commissioner will begin July 1, 2019 and run for four (4) years, expiring on June 30, 2023....

...with a month to go, legislators will have plenty of time to raise your taxes....

...Reminiscent of rail, projected Ala Wai costs have already leapt from $200M to $470M.... 

...An investigation of complaints made against the state of Hawaii came to a close this month after Hawaii Attorney General Clare Connors issued a memorandum stating that her department will not enforce a controversial law....

...Auditors reviewed 25 HDOT projects in progress where little or no activity had occurred in the prior two fiscal years and found that all but five were categorized inappropriately. Twenty of the selected projects “were deemed to either have been placed in service or were canceled....”

...Kona Pacific Public Charter School, 222 students, 37.4 percent not vaccinated....

...March 27th, the Hawaii state House Committee on Judiciary will be holding a decision making hearing on anti-gun legislation, Senate Bill 600 and Senate Bill 1466.  On Thursday, March 28th, the Senate Committee on Judiciary will be holding a decision making hearing on House Bill 720....

...Before we submit our plan to the DNC, we need your input. On April 24, our State Central Committee will vote on a final plan. Please give us all your comments before then....

...through 2018, the incidence of drug related deaths in the state has surpassed traffic fatalities in Hawaii. Fortunately, death rates have declined since the Initiative was launched, with more than 120 overdose reversal from administration of Naloxone in the last year....

...tax increases would affect commercial, up by 14 cents per $1,000 of valuation; industrial, up by 3 cents per thousand; hotel and resort, up by 23 cents per thousand; and short-term rental, up by 27 cents per thousand....

...contrasting state and local tax collections with the quality of the services residents receive in each of the 50 states....

...She said the alternative — an indictment — “could even have led to civil war.”....

...As much as a third of the food waste in Hawaii is due to food that has gone bad before it reaches the consumer....

...it is never enough....

...The 'Humanize Palestine' website was deactivated later in 2017, about two weeks after the University of Hawaii Chancellor became aware of a nexus that consisted of University of Hawaii content, Palestinian terrorism and the website....

...government officials are blaming others and dodging responsibility....

...Hawaii ranks 51st for 'medical environment'....

...Gabbard trails 10 points behind Pete Buttigieg....

... We believe these bills are unconstitutional ....

...if we think it’s such a great idea, why don’t we apply it to state executives, judges, or legislators?....

...Which States have the most Neighborhood Watch Programs per capita?....

...The proposed draft will come to the Commission in April 2019 for final acceptance before being submitted to HUD for approval....

...The board member has a strong background in collective bargaining and believes that one of the reasons he was appointed to the board was to assist it in collective bargaining matters....

"...Because you provided the Party with advance notice that the restrictions on the use of your official title and during the speech you asserted that you were speaking in your personal capacity, we believe that the Party acted without your permission...."

...higher medical costs increase our state’s debt — and Hawaii taxpayers might be the ones who end up paying for it....

...The project has tallied one of America’s biggest transit cost overruns; a grand jury is investigating....

...Hawaii district court strikes down law targeting pro-life pregnancy centers....

...Since its creation in 2009, the TPP Program has provided nearly $1 billion....

...the subsequent increase to $13 led to large reductions in hours for low wage workers of 6-7% that completely offset a 3% rise in the average hourly wages....

... it is expected at least 130 electric buses will be added to fleets during the course of the pilot, including tour buses, school buses and public transit systems like TheBus on Oahu....

"...There are 12 federal agencies that award education research grants, and the executive order will leave it to them to decide what schools must do to be in compliance...."  

"...Despite the rejection of the Supreme Court of Hawaii, our efforts were key in the legislature’s decision to drop the skim from 10% to 1% during the 2017 Special Session—this was a win for all taxpayers in this State...."