"Since taking office, Mazie Hirono sponsored 49 bills and zero has passed into law. And she missed 127 votes so far this year, many of them pertaining to important issues like job creation, the environment, and federal support for student loans."

There will be a national summit on affordable housing that will be held in Honolulu next week...

Oahu has fewer than 400,000 taxpayers so the possibility of a twelve billion dollar bill for a long rail line presents a staggering liability. Over $30,000 per taxpayer....
 

Apparently, there is an effort to get the Judiciary or the Legislature to form another court with specialized jurisdiction....

 The complaint asserts that the County has no legitimate interest in restricting tourists or part time residents, and that the charter amendment is a zoning regulation that cannot be adopted by the voters ....

...Abercrombie and the governors of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI), and Guam have signed a partnership agreement to assist the region in identifying coastal and ocean management priorities....

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.