In just this legislative session, we've seen attempts to make the surcharge a permanent part of life.... We've seen proposed income tax increases. There's even an attempt to write a tax...into the state Constitution....

...Suicide Tuesday, February 28, 2017 11:30 a.m....

It will be heard on Monday, February 27, at 9:30 in room 229 before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health....

...42 key indicators of affordability, economic strength, quality of education and health, and overall living standards....

During the hearing, no oral testimony was permitted; however, many provided written testimony in opposition, pointing out the many flaws and constitutional concerns....

The voting period for neighborhood board elections will begin on April 28, 2017, and end on May 19, 2017....

...HART’s wildly inflated rail ridership projections, the surging cost of the project, and pleas from the mayor's office to obtain more tax dollars....

The House and Senate are not doing legislative business in their respective chambers this week....

...method used across the U.S. mainland....

...information and developments that are about to be announced by Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chair Colette Machado....

"...NGOs are smuggling immigrants into Europe on an industrial scale...."

... an EIS which they are not required to submit ....

I never understood why there is so much support for a national, single-payer healthcare system – until I started working in a small medical office....

...if the minimum wage was increased, many grocery stores today would simply replace workers with automated tablets....

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

...and if you earn $100K, Hawaii is 3rd-highest....

...why firearm suppressors are so heavily regulated....

...and Legislators are pushing HB209 to make those rates even higher....

The sheer number of bills related to tax or public finance is staggering. It's much more frenetic this year than in any other year I've been in this position....

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....

Because the savings rate is calculated from local price comparisons, it will vary by region due to differences in the cost of living, even when commissary prices remain uniform and constant....

SB 898 is a misguided gun control bill that would permanently strip an individual of their Second Amendment rights, not based on a criminal conviction or mental adjudication, but based on a quasi-criminal proceeding....

7.35% of Hawaii households have $1M or more of investable assets....

Hawaii state lawmakers hope to make their state the next to force pregnancy care centers to promote abortion....

Candidate Registration is now closed....

Friday, February 17, 2017 is the last day to register as a candidate for the Neighborhood Board elections....

An NSC survey released Feb. 15 provides a glimpse at the risky things drivers are doing....

The extension adds eight calendar days to the 30 calendar days allowed by statute for the approving agency to decide if the FEIS is acceptable....

...OHA Professional Services Contract awards for the past 36 months....

...researchers have determined that an average of 15.5 bats are killed at each individual wind turbine site every year....

"Currently, there are no laws on the books that allow for the involuntarily commitment of individuals who are mentally ill or drug addicted or alcoholic...."

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection & Health passed the assisted suicide (SB1129) out of committee on February 15, 2017....

...Highest Percentage of Jobs Generated by Immigrant-Owned Businesses Rank -- 3rd....

...when it is mailed by the appellant, or when received by the Board of Registration Appeals....

This means one or more of the key bridge elements, such as the deck, superstructure or substructure, is considered to be in "poor" or worse condition....

... Auditor: OHA Fails to File Oversight Reports as it Drains Public Land Trust Fund ....

Rather than reopen the search, University of Hawaiʻi President David Lassner is recommending that he continue to serve as interim UH Mānoa chancellor for two more years....

...judicial nominees for three vacancies in the District Court of the First Circuit (Island of Oahu) as a result of the retirement of Judges Gerald H. Kibe, David W. Lo, and Barbara P. Richardson....

...What color is your golden parachute?....

 ...$9,450 a year more without spending a penny....

The deadline to submit completed candidate and voter registration forms for upcoming Neighborhood Board elections is this Friday, February 17, 2017....

Maunakea Scholars is an innovative program designed to bring Hawaiʻi’s young, aspiring astronomers into the observatory community by competitively allocating observing time on Maunakea’s world-class telescopes....

...Randall Roth comments on two stories on the DoE investigation into education reform advocate John Sosa which ran on KHON Feb 6 and Feb 7....

...the department has chosen to support Senate Bill No. 424 and House Bill No. 456....

...UHERO: ‘Discriminatory’ HSTA Property Tax Plan hits Renters Hardest....

...Must read: AG responds to 9 questions from Ing.  Short version of responses: “No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, and No.”....

...the State is making a ton of money off the skim....