Entries for August 2012

Today was the last day to file....

The State is not liable for GET and it is illogical for the State to pay itself taxes. However, the DOE estimates it will pay more than $2 million in school year 2012 for contractors’ GET. The department was unable to explain why it pays GET on most contracts.

...OSFSS branches have been given even greater procurement authority with greatly reduced, if any, oversight by the Procurement and Contracts Branch....

Less than half of 2009 recommendations have been implemented; public school teachers’ personal information at risk....

On Sept. 5 many students, including those aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, will bring home federal survey cards for parents to complete as soon as possible in order to bring in additional funding for their school.

U.S. Marshals, Hawaii County Police Officers, and Hawaii State Sheriffs conducted a joint fugitive round-up blanketing the island of Hawaii. Sixty-seven wanted fugitives were arrested with 91 federal and state warrants cleared.

Lie Number Five: Health Reform Is Going to Make Medicare More Efficient....

The debate in Tampa this week raised a number of issues....

The resolution asks for the federal government to “consult with our tribal governments and indigenous communities for guidance in all policies that affect our way of life ....

Full text of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s remarks to the Republican National Convention on Aug. 30 in Tampa, as prepared for delivery.

 ...Public comment accepted through September 21, 2012 ....

“First, of all the major candidates running in the special election, none of them are speaking for the vast majority of voters who oppose the city's planned rail project. Voters are sending a clear message to city officials that they do not want the project ...

... on Aug. 27, the State of Hawaii, Office of Elections held a voting equipment debriefing in Honolulu....  She did not attend the voting equipment debriefing, because she met with the voting equipment vendor’s Regional Manager and Island Representative in Hilo on Aug. 22 ....

The beacon has funded 19 Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) projects proposed by individuals and groups in a number of communities on the Big Island....It’s a way to build trust, according to Jessica Yamamoto, Hawaii beacon’s community engagement manager. 

Year-to-date visitor spending has generated an estimated $915 million in state tax revenues....

"People are really eager to go to convention and get everything going." -- David Chang, State GOP Chair

The Office of the Governor is seeking nominations for a number of boards and commissions....

Heritage defense experts call Obama's defense strategy "a strategy of hope": "a hope that big wars are a thing of the past; a hope that America's allies will do more; and a hope that fewer resources do not jeopardize the lives of American soldiers."

... Hawaiian leaders, community and cultural practitioners, business executives, trust land experts, sovereignty proponents, policy makers and government officials ....

Since the passage of President Obama's health care law, hospitals are increasing their size by acquiring private practices.

I accept the duty to help lead our nation out of a jobs crisis and back to prosperity- and I know we can do this....

A survey by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in July revealed that small businesses' top three concerns were taxes, regulations, and poor sales.... 

...according to the law's supporters, EMR adoption will yield cost savings. This conclusion, however, has not been definitively proven....

Federal subsidies in fiscal year 2010 for solar-generated energy were $775.64 per megawatt hour and $56.29 per megawatt hour for wind....

...what happens if Obama loses the election to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who will bring in his own education secretary? There will be more than a year left for implementation, so how will a new administration oversee the grants....

The 20 lowest ranked libraries were ....

“This new Anti-Bullying Policy Yardstick helps schools identify which policies are driven by a narrow political agenda...."

HAMPAC, the Political Action Committee of the Hawaii Medical Association (HMA) today announced its endorsement of Governor Linda Lingle for Hawaii's open U.S. Senate seat.

The Hawaii Beacon, which received a $16 million three-year grant, is one of 17 model communities around the nation using health IT ....

Mr. Manahan chose to influence voters and leave his banners both outside and inside the entrance of the polling locations....

The certificate also included financial projections....

Obama declared in his Saturday radio address that his proposed reforms “won’t touch your guaranteed Medicare benefits. Not by a single dime.”  This is incorrect. Obamacare cuts $716 billion from Medicare over the next 10 years....

Mounting pension shortfalls and high debt are upping the risk for state muni-bond investors....

...more government entities than ever are getting in on the action and creating forums -- in a technological sense -- for public debate.  But are they also creating public forums in a legal sense?

... a thousand individuals have said yes, to being included on the base roll ....

Progressives admit to being "deeply suspicious of the claim that a health care system dominated by powerful vested interests and mystifying in its complexity can be tamed by consumers who are strapped for time, often poor, sometimes uneducated, confused and afraid." But just how valid are these concerns?

“It is great news for the Leeward Coast that the process is moving forward to resume medical care to the hospital."

...internal poll results we received today shows Governor Lingle is ahead of Mazie Hirono by 6 percentage points!

Remember this?

...the Hawaii Supreme Court "has managed to find in favor of Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, Earthjustice ... 90% of the time, 70% of those decisions overturning the [Hawaii] Intermediate Court of Appeals....

...this year marks the 100th anniversary of another Republican Convention embroiled in political drama of a different nature....

The Kahuku story is part of a much bigger problem I Aloha Molokai’s latest film examines the issues related to the recent fire at Oahu’s Kahuku wind farm....

We must honor the promises we made to Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries and to those nearing that age," said Governor Lingle. “Our kupuna should not fear that their payments could be stopped or reduced during their lifetimes.”

Well, the Primary Election is over and all eyes are focused on the BIG PRIZE come November, but will voters be salved with the political rhetoric or will they ask the hard questions?

The best treated inmate was the "Prostitute". She told me she didn't even have to have sex with anyone....

Alexandra Telluselle is a Swedish national and self-described "citizen of the world" who was arrested by HPD for shoplifting from a Honolulu Foodland store August 18, 2011....

Many of you have asked for the results. Here they are for those who voted for me and Hirono.

UHPA policy allows active members of UHPA to object to the $5 per month allocation to the Political Action Fund. A member must complete an Allocation Objection Form. The form for the 2012-2013 fiscal year is available now and must be returned to the UHPA office by September 14, 2012.

the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals held that the Hawaii Senate's failure to confirm a sitting Land Use Commissioner for a second term did not disqualify him ....

$52.5 million for Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) that will help shape Hawaiꞌi’s future ....