Hawaii State Government

...Watchdog Group Says State Budget Must be Reevaluated....

The House Finance Committee March 9 passed out a proposed budget that reflects slower economic growth in Hawaii based on General Excise Tax collections and projections by the State Council on Revenues....

...State Senators today approved 318 bills on third reading. Sixty-six bills were approved earlier on third reading for a total of 384....

The House voted to pass on to the Senate today another 157 bills, bringing the total to 365...

There are currently 4,581 signatures....

...MAY 4   ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE....

Representative Gene Ward (R – District 17, Hawaii Kai) today requested the Department of Accounting and General Services for more security protection at the State Capitol....

...Unsustainable government salaries and pensions are worsening the crisis....

Note low scores in all government functions: Education, Crime, Infrastructure and ‘Government’ – High scores in non-government functions: Health Care, Opportunity, Economy....

...Ige announced that he would cut $220 million from his current spending plan. However, the ‘cuts’ are only reductions in proposed spending increases....

All legislative bills referred to more than one committee (i.e., those with multiple referrals) must have moved to their final committee in the originating chamber....

Hawaii is missing $23 billion ....

...100 “Short Form” bills have been introduced to the Hawaii legislature....

...New data show government outpacing private sector, pointing to an unhealthy economy....

HB381 is scheduled on Wednesday, February 8, 9:00 a. m. at the capitol's room 429....

Is a 7% return on investment sustainable into the future? Another organization that studied the issue said that a more realistic rate of return would be the “risk-free” rate, which they calculated at 2.344%....

...the sea water air conditioning business can use the funds to pay management highly inflated salaries, purchase other business opportunities, build sea water air conditioning plants outside of the State, or for any other purpose....

Considering how often we are promised "effective" policy or political plans that "work", there's surprisingly little effort spent measuring that effectiveness....

...for a new term that will begin July 1, 2017 and run for four (4) years....

...challenging times include high shipping costs, high taxes, a high rate of public sector unionism, shaky government pension programs, inadequate housing supply and pervasive homelessness, excessive business and employment regulations, cronyism and corruption....

...We have lots of liberal federal judges here so we can get a favorable ruling without difficulty....

3,600 words full of spending proposals and sunny guarantees about the future....

Okay, the same guys who brought us 42 air conditioners are going to solve the housing crisis....

"...we march, not out of fear and anger, but out of confidence in the direction we must take...."

...our state government paid half a million dollars in pension payments to people who were already dead. Well, then, what do you think of budgeting many times that amount for people who don’t even exist?....

Here are some resources for you....

And what was the most memorable part of his remarks? The introductions of Rep. Kouchi's campaign manager and of the highest paid lobbyist....

...this July, we look forward to completing the privatization of Maui’s public hospitals and initiating a new era of health care delivery on the Valley Isle....

The 2017 Legislative Program for the Hawai‘i State Senate is as follows....

In my past opening day speeches, I didn’t talk much about policy....

Convening at 10AM ....

State lawmakers were in shock this week as Hawaii’s pension debt increased from $8 billion to $12 billion....

From April 1, 2010 through April 30, 2014, Ponce, also known as Mary Jane Dalumpinis, was overpaid $3,723.00 in food stamp benefits....

"Our membership will live two to three years longer, which means we’ll have to pay...."

He held several positions at the Suisan Fish Market before becoming distribution manager for Hawai‘i Paper Products last year....

Nishina previously served in the role from December 2009 to January 2011....

The 28th Hawaii State Legislature ended on May 5, 2016, with some important victories for small business. The 29th session commences Jan. 18, 2017....

Act 200 of 2016 requires significant changes to moped registration throughout the State of Hawaii....

...the Ige Administration has been meeting with the unions....

Stop the unconstitutional use of public funds to turn native Hawaiians into a race-based tribe. Instead, focus on what would really help them -- like better schools, more housing, and economic development....

The Hawaii state budget figures show a record high surplus of over $1 billion in 2016....

...explore ways to help about 216,000 private sector employees in the state who do not have a retirement savings plan at work. And to help family caregivers, AARP will fight for respite care and improved access to long-term care resources....

The deadline to submit grant applications is 4:30 p.m. Friday, January 20, 2017....

$4.8 million of unrestricted funds to 216 Hawai‘i-based nonprofit organizations that can be used at their discretion....

...But-but-but What about the separation of church and state?....

...Ige Budget Leaves Tax Hikes to Legislature--includes no funding for raises....

Laurel Johnston to serve as deputy director of the Department of Budget and Finance--Ryker Wada to be the deputy director of the Department of Human Resources Development....

The scope of the HawaiiPay project includes the modernization of the payroll process followed by time and attendance....

A bill calling for the creation of an Office of the Condominium Ombudsman and seven-member commission is currently being drafted in a Hawaii legislative office....

...examines, records, and indexes more than 344,000 land and property documents and maps each year....