Hawaii State Government

... the Governor issued a Fourteenth Supplementary Proclamation, in which the language suspending the Procurement Code was radically changed ....

... last-minute “spend-for-the-sake-of-spending” mentality ....

...a permanent change to the Sunshine Law that would allow, but not mandate, boards to conduct “virtual” online public meetings, while continuing to require at least one physical meeting location where people ... could still testify and participate in person....

...Five states continue to carry elevated long-term liability burdens above 20% of personal income in fiscal 2019, including Illinois (at 27% of personal income), Connecticut, New Jersey, Hawaii and Alaska. For all of them, pensions remain the driver of elevated liabilities....

...we have a state budget hole of more than 2 billion dollars....

...Laffer-ALEC Report on Economic Freedom: Grading America’s 50 Governors....

...In Partal et al. v. Ige et al., the plaintiffs argued that the Governor’s emergency powers under Hawaiʻi law were time-limited....

... Limited Scope Review of the State of Hawai‘i’s Mandatory Travel Self-Quarantine Program ....

...Hawaii’s unfunded liabilities for infrastructure and public health benefits have increased so far this year to $97 billion....

...an example of leadership in the face of the COVID-19 crisis....

...Hawaii’s general fund spending rose a hefty 5.7 percent in 2020, thus reducing the governor’s score in this report....

...ACUF reviewed selected pieces of legislation voted on in both the Hawaii Senate and House to produce average scores of each chamber as well as individual scores for each sitting member....

... 200 Trained Operators Will Answer Phones ....

...The bill addresses the appearance of corruption....

... At the beginning of the year, our governor boasted about his efforts to put the state on a “sound financial footing.” What a difference a few months can make ....

...Ige’s deadline to veto bills has passed, so we know which of the bills that made it through this most unusual session will become law....

...The governors zeroed in on two principal drivers of our government’s response, namely structural capability and leadership....

...Meanwhile: Top Three Failure Reward: Former DLIR Director Scott Murakami takes job at DBEDT....

...Gov. Ige vetoes bill limiting “revolving door” between government and lobbyists....

... The Auditor was supposed to start on the first chunk last year and finish the report before the start of the 2020 legislature, but ....

... Lt. Gov. Green plans to continue his duties from his home as long as he’s feeling well ....

... Kokua Council has filed a petition for mandamus with the Supreme Court ....

... The AlertMedia software offers a host of benefits aside from quick and efficient message dissemination.  It also offers message tracking, “geofencing” and weather alerts.  Geofencing, allows the system administrator to encircle an area on a map and transmit messages just to users inside that geographic area ....

...that crisis finally came, and we were unprepared for it....

...Gov. David Ige has notified legislative leaders and key lawmakers of his Intent to Veto the following 6 measures....

... Gov. David Ige announced today that Dr. Bruce Anderson and Director Nolan Espinda will be retiring in September ....

...I’m not the only one trying to dig up information on where the money went....

...The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii says the lack of transparency is ‘eroding public trust in the management of the pandemic’....

"...Through the issuance of a 'no action message,' DFI is not taking any action against these companies...."

...Growing the budget and approving government employee pay raises when Hawaii is running out of money is an unsustainable way to run a state....

...COVID surge prompts HGEA to tell Departments: Limit physical presence at worksites....

...Scott Murakami resigned on Aug. 5 as director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations....

...Betts will replace Pankaj Bhanot who is stepping down as the department’s director for health and family reasons on Aug. 31, 2020....

... Decreased from $230M to 0, the appropriation out of the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund to provide an additional weekly unemployment benefit of $100 per week ....

...Through July 14, the department has issued $35,980,789 to imposter fraud claimants....

...EPA banned LCCs in 2005....

...Waiving the entire “annual required contribution” or ARC payment to EUTF for this year would save the state about $840 million, according to one official….

...a list of all bills passed during the 2020 session....

... donning rose-colored glasses and approaching the budget shortfall as a temporary setback ....

...to fill the late Sen. Breene Harimoto’s state Senate seat. State Senate District 16 includes Pearl City....

"...The people of Hawaii are facing a dead economy, and thousands are waiting in food lines to feed their families...."

"...The revenue profiles of the state and the city and county are quite different. The state is much more exposed to volatile revenue sources such as general excise tax and transient accommodation tax (TAT)...."

...according to Senator Thielen CARES money was put in the Rainy Day fund so the governor couldn’t touch it....

...Statement of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association and American Lung Association....

...the institute said it "continues to have grave concerns," since "the powers contemplated in this bill are so sweeping and broad as to raise significant questions about privacy, civil liberties and constitutionality."....

...Those seeking to apply, renew, or obtain a duplicate credential can now choose “X” or “Not Specified” in the gender category instead of the binary “M” (Male) or “F” (Female)....

...Laughing at your sacrifice: Senate votes 21-3, House votes 45-4....

...Honolulu lawyers Robert Thomas and Jeff Portnoy address questions that have arisen during the coronavirus shut-down....

...With Hawaii facing its greatest financial crisis in generations, the state Legislature is finally taking action on balloon launches, a “climate innovation technology park” and red light cameras....