Environment

As many of you know, Tom has proudly represented the values of our party for years as a volunteer in the community, member of the Ewa Neighborhood Board and as a candidate for the State House.  His years of dedication and service to his community have clearly been recognized by voters in this Special Election.

Hawai has an unfunded pension liability to the government Employees Retirement System estimated by the American Legislative Exchange Council in excess of $5 billion dollars.  But a September 9, 2010 Procurement exemption request filed by State vendor KMH LLP suggests that liability will be cut by reducing benefits during the 2011 legislative session.

With the UPW desperately hoping to somehow magically repatriate the Hawaii convicts being held in mainland prisons, State Auditor Marion Higa has graciously obliged with an audit of Hawaii’s private prison contracts....

More news from around the country as Governor Neil Abercrombie, implementing a "top priority” of his administration, heroically crusades against the “demonic, eviscerating” Birther hordes.

Rather than create wealth, crony moguls form a coalition with political officials to plunder wealth from taxpayers and other citizens.

December 28, 2010 ---(Honolulu, Hawaii) The funeral service for retired federal Judge Samuel Pailthorpe King will be held tomorrow at St. Andrews’s Cathedral. A gathering will begin at 1:30pm, followed by the service at 2:30pm with the Order of Kamehameha entering the Cathedral on Beretania and Queen Emma/Alakea St.

The federal government has accumulated more new debt--$3.22 trillion ($3,220,103,625,307.29)—during the tenure of the 111th Congress than it did during the first 100 Congresses combined, according to official debt figures published by the U.S. Treasury.

Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie’s “top priority” – leading Hawaii in Holy Crusade to slay the Birther dragon – continues to make national and international news.  Google News reports over 2000 articles have been published and more are coming out by the hour.  Here are some of the latest….  

Several ... American businesses were permitted to deal with foreign companies believed to be involved in terrorism or weapons proliferation. In one such case, involving equipment bought by a medical waste disposal plant in Hawaii, the government was preparing to deny the license until an influential politician intervened....

"In off the record conversations, business leaders expressed concern—even fear—about what Abercrombie might do if elected.  Their focus had been less on the specifics of his platform than on how he might treat the business community."

Abercrombie’s response?   Hawaii business leaders have nothing to fear and if they think otherwise they are just ignorant knuckle dragging Neanderthals.

Abercrombie is facing a $71 million deficit this year and 10 times that amount in the years to come....  Even so, the new governor said he was having the time of his life. “If I was having a better time,” he said, laughing, “I’d have to be arrested.”

But on the matter of the birthers, Mr. Abercrombie grew serious....

December 31, 2010 might have been “lights out” for wind energy, but when President Obama on December 17 signed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010, the bill did more than extend the Bush Tax cuts and unemployment benefits.

LA Times: Democrat Neil Abercrombie, who knew Obama's parents, is determined to torpedo the conspiracy theory.

Wendy Clerinx, of Hilo, serves as Policy Director, Tammi Oyadomari-Chun and Michael Ng as Policy Analysts and Debbie Shimizu as Legislative Liaison.

The 111th Congress adjourned sine die on Wednesday, December 22, 2010. The first session of the 112th Congress is scheduled for Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 12 p.m.

As Equal Justice Foundation puts it, “Mail ballots are the method of choice for election fraud. For years now the [we have] pointed out that you can have an honest election, or you can have a mail/absentee ballot election, but you can't have both at the same time.”

Congressman Charles Djou gave the following speech as his final address the the U.S. House....

In spite of Gubernatorial and Congressional losses, Hawaii Republican leaders see their party’s 2010 campaigns laying a foundation for future success. 

Governor Neil Abercrombie today submitted the initial version of the state’s budget with a call to legislators, businesses, nonprofits and all community members to work collaboratively throughout the legislative process to address fiscal challenges and accelerate the state’s economic recovery.

Good news out of Congress this week:  The infamous Akaka Bill, which would create a “Native Hawaiian” government for purposes of racial preferences and other unconstitutional goodies, will not be a part of the slimmed-down legislation that funds the government until Congress gets around to passing an actual budget.

So now that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D–NV) has filed for cloture, is Tuesday’s vote a foregone conclusion? No.

• Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010
• Cloture Motion; DREAM Act
• Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010

The 35th annual Smart Business Hawaii (SBH) Business and Investment conference will be held Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at Honolulu’s Ala Moana Hotel from 7am to 2pm.

The following are some of the laws (those most likely to impact the general public) slated to take effect on January 1, 2011. Click on the bills to get more information.

... blame the military and use this as a basis to prepare to scam a billion or two from Congress the next time Democrats take over....

Honolulu, Dec 19- Governor Neil Abercrombie today announced the appointment of David M. Louie as Attorney General.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has announced the team leading the Department of Health: Dr. Neal Palafox, Director, Loretta Fuddy, MSW, First Deputy Director, and Gary Gill, Deputy Director for the Environment.

Last night, the spirit of the Tea Party won another major victory when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D–NV) was forced to drop his $1.27 trillion, 1,924-page omnibus spending bill. The problem with Reid’s omnibus spending bill was not just its size—although our federal government does spend far too much of other people’s money—but the way it was drafted and forced on the American people.

Rep. Djou voted in favor of the Obama tax proposal that the President announced last week. Rep. Mazie Hirono was the only member of the Hawaii delegation who voted to oppose the President on this critical bill.

VIDEO: House Speaker Calvin Say suggests Lili`uokalani could be converted to a Charter School.

Honolulu, HI – Hawaii Right to Life is sponsoring the 38th annual March for Life Hawaii with co-sponsors Hawaii Family Forum and Hawaii Catholic Conference. The grassroots rally is open to the public and will be held Saturday, January 22 from 10:30am to 1:30pm at the Hawaii State Capitol grounds.

It isn’t quite the Akaka Bill sneak attack that many have warned of in recent days, but on page 809-810 of the 2011 Omnibus Appropriations Act, Senator Dan Inouye has slipped in a mandate to the US Department of the Interior....

Toxics managed, treated or released into the environment from facilities operating in Hawai’i decreased 9 percent in 2009 when compared to 2008, according to the latest data available from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Hawaii joins the 32 other states who already have borrowed money from the federal government to pay unemployment benefits during the current economic downturn. DLIR anticipated the insolvency and proactively took the steps to request advances from U.S. Department of Labor last September. Currently, Hawaii pays out $25 million in regular unemployment benefits a month through the trust fund. 

“I welcome the GAO’s decision to audit the federal funds that go to the COFA. I have been vocally calling for reforming this treaty throughout my campaign and time in Congress – this is a good first step."

Overall, states achieved the highest scores ever for health emergency preparedness with 14 states scoring nine or higher. Three states (Arkansas, North Dakota, and Washington State) scored 10 out of 10. Another 25 states and Washington, D.C. scored in the 7 to 8 range. No state scored lower than a five

• Cloture Motion, Defense Authorization Act
• Continuing Resolution
• DREAM Act
• Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010

Highlights:

For those who have been party members for a while, you know that he does this every year and you may already be disregarding them.  For those who have recently joined, these accusations may be alarming and that is why although most of what is said should be disregarded, we feel it is necessary to address a few of the points....

The Hawaii State Board of Education approved the following committee leadership assignments at a meeting Thursday night at Radford High School....

In the case of Queen Lydia Lili’uokalani School, history and tradition argues even more strongly against closure.  It would indeed be ironic to shut its doors on the 100^th school year since the Queen dedicated its opening.

US Attorney General Eric Holder and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar have written to Senate leaders to “express the Administration’s strong support for …  S 3945 .”  S3945 is the latest version of the Akaka Bill.  

“Hawaii’s projected shortfall is $201.9 million, or 3.6% of its total budget, according to NCSL data.”

The NCSL report also projects a 2.6% budget gap for 2013, this adds up to $145M.

When I was a mere eight-year-old boy I was sexually abused for an entire year of my childhood life. In addition to the horrific abuse my abuser took child porn photographs of me and had me develop them at his apartment.

He put his hand on my shoulder and said “wouldn’t your mother like a copy.”

60% of individuals lack a "rainy day" fund to cover expenses for three months, in case of emergencies such as sickness, job loss or economic downturn.

First it's important to mention the impeccable reputation and expert subject knowledge of the primary authors of the report prepared by Infrastructure Management Group, Inc.

Steve Steckler is a Harvard University planner and chairman of IMG with past service in the U.S. DOT. Thomas Rubin is a mass transit consultant who's served as Controller-Treasurer of the Southern California Rapid Transit District, now known as Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority.