The HGEA contract, which will not be made available to the public until long after it is passed, does not reduce the state budget, but based on what the union representatives and the governor have reported thus far, it will increase the cost of government by more than $100 million.

...Got $3.9M burning a hole in your pocket?....

This project uses tax and rate payer money to enrich a privately held corporation. It bills itself as “green” when it is actually a corporate boondoggle to put a billion dollars every four years into one man’s pocket.

In messages being sent to the HGEA membership, HGEA bosses describe the tentative agreement as including “administrative time off.”  This confirms the report in today’s Star-Advertiser, “Public workers would also get an additional six hours of paid time off each month, according to sources.” 

Governor Neil Abercrombie today announced that more than 50 Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) have been initiated as part of his New Day Works Projects to create jobs and stimulate the economy....

... Hawaii Obama Approval 64% - 29% ....

Hanabusa, Hirono oppose House continuing resolution which keeps the federal government operating and ensures federal employees will receive a paycheck, including those of our military men and woman serving in harm’s way ....

 A poll done for the Daily Kos by Public Policy Polling showed that Abercrombie is down to a 48% approval rating. This is after receiving almost 58% of the vote last November.  In addition, this poll seems to have under-sampled Republicans ....

S.675, the 2011 version of the Akaka Bill, passed a voice vote of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee today.  The next stop for the bill would be the floor of the US Senate  No version of the Akaka Bill has ever passed the Senate.

Congress must act before April 8 or the government will shut down.

Those highlighted in yellow have voted to increase the most regressive of all Hawaii taxes.  The hike in the GE Tax will hit low and middle income consumers hard.  Save this list for November 6, 2012.

With the prospect of a government shutdown looming, some in Congress have rightly devoted special attention to ensuring our military remains fully funded....  

 Later this afternoon, the House Armed Services Committee will hear testimony from leaders in the armed forces on the impact of last year's repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

After two years of marketing the alleged horrors of the non-existent “Pacific Garbage Patch”, environmentalists, big business, and big government are ready to cash in.

Details of the two-year contract from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2013 include:

• An equal contribution (50/50) for public workers’ health benefits between public employees and the State and county governments 
• A 5 percent reduction in base pay for public employees without furlough days or layoffs

Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald appointed Lanson K. Kupau, Melanie Mito May and Dean E. Ochiai to the District Court and Catherine H. Remigio to the District Family Court of the First Circuit (Oahu).

At 4 p.m., the House Finance Committee will be hearing testimony on Senate Bill 1363....

It's time for action and leadership, not press conferences and finger pointing.

The HTA forecasts moderate growth in total scheduled nonstop air seats to Hawaii in the second quarter .....

There will be no formal hearing before the committee. In the past such testimony has given clues about divisions among the thieves attempting to steal the Hawaiian patrimony for themselves.