First look at 2011 data finds rising prices drove spending growth for those with employer-sponsored insurance....

... environmentalists want to use the label to imply that organic foods are safer ....

The man being showered with attention as a respectable international leader may rank shy only of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ....

In tripping over the YouTube video that was offensive to Muslims, the President seemed to validate other countries’ disregard for freedom of speech....

"And let's not hoist a large Islamic flag, and let's not be barbaric-talking. We will remain a front so that if the thing happens, we will benefit from the new happenings instead of having all of our organizations classified and exposed."

Note this is not a complete sentence: “I based this concern as the Governor as well as an alumnus and supporter of the University of Hawai'i.”

The official, head-to-head debates begin next week, but Sunday’s “60 Minutes” appearances by President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA) provided a contrast in the ideas offered on the nation’s entitlements and spending crisis....

...Moreover, it is unlikely to be resolved by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act....

...the five-member commission, in absence of any objective criteria, is given authority to decide who is not a “qualified” Hawaiian....

Community member George Martin is a 1978 graduate of Lauapahoehoe School. A former mechanic for Yamada and Sons, Martin has been a business agent for the ILWU 142 for seven years....

...Robert Katz, whose law firm got a $25,000 contract to redact UH documents, sanitizing them of information his firm felt needed to be protected from public view....

OBAMACARE AND HEALTH ISSUES IN HAWAII a special 90-minute discussion
Tuesday, September 25, 7 – 9 pm, at Boston Basil’s Restaurant & Pizzeria, 75-5707 Alii Drive (downtown Kailua-Kona)

43 days left until the November 6th General Election!

... the state Department of Health violated the federal Clean Air Act in granting a permit to operate to Hu Honua ....

• Senate: Veterans Job Training – Motion to Waive
• Senate: Foreign Aid Suspension
• Senate: Iran Nuclear Threat
• Senate: Continuing Resolution
• House: Student Loan Exemption for Deceased Veterans – Suspension
• House: Public Funding for Political Conventions – Suspension
• House: Welfare Work Requirements – Disapproval Resolution
• House: STEM Visa Program - Suspension
• House: Manhattan Project National Park – Suspension
• House: Energy Regulatory Rollback – Passage

... the tax credits have other, indirect effects: Increased sales of electric vehicles allow automakers to sell more low-fuel-economy vehicles ....

Occupy Wall Street's pathetic first birthday last week confirmed that the longstanding reports of the movement's death have not, in fact, been exaggerated....

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." -- George Santayana

We are on the same treacherous fiscal path as Greece, Italy and Spain....

...

Apparently there are some, including some of the commissioners on the Tax Review Commission, who believe that those unfunded liabilities that combined is estimated to be more than $20 billion must be addressed with increases in taxes....

...the goal was not only to improve efficiency and patient safety, but also to reduce health care costs.  But, in reality, the move to electronic health records may be contributing to billions of dollars in higher costs....

The Washington Post said the film "plays squarely to folks who feel that Christians today are persecuted."

The PFM Group’s recommendations on ways to raise taxes are insulting....

...one of the proposed amendments would specifically allow a major film production studio in an industrial zoned area near Campbell Industrial Park, as proposed under resolution 08-93.  The Planning Commission recommends denial....

...

...producer Dinesh D'Souza asks viewers whether we will pursue the American dream or Barack Obama's dream....

Agriculture provides employment for a very small number of people and the people who work in agriculture earn less than workers in any other sector....

For Hirono to build her entire campaign on the coattails of Senator Inouye and President Obama underscores her lack of depth as a candidate for a promotion to higher office....

If Obama;'s 2013 budget is implemented, Hawaii will be obligated to pay $1,096,300,000 more for Medicaid....

federal enforcement authority will be exercised in Hawaii effective September 21, 2012....

Upon completion of all program requirements, participants’ savings are matched with $6400....

Sunday will mark the start of the 100-day countdown to “Taxmageddon” – the date the largest tax hikes in the history of America will take effect....

The report singles out top Department of Justice officials for wrongdoing and contradicts sworn testimony by Attorney General Eric Holder.

 The law does nothing more than deceive people into purchasing non-GE foods, which aren't different from GE foods....

We need to elect leaders who are more concerned about America than their political party and will put aside partisan differences to work together to solve our nation's problems. 

About 47 percent of the designated habitat is located on land belonging to the state, 11 percent is on federal lands, 9 percent is on city and county lands, while 33 percent on of the land privately owned.

A prosecutor cannot use a criminal prosecution against a political rival in an attempt to intimidate him.... Incredibly, they made tape recordings discussing their plans and they joked on those tapes about committing perjury if ever caught.

...islanders, many of whom have persistent and serious health conditions, filed a class action against the state, alleging that the cut in benefits violated the equal-protection clause of the U.S. Constitution....

...

As a 4th generation farmer of Peterson’s Farm, Lauren will effectively serve as a voice for the agricultural community ....

Through her leadership and assistance State House Republicans were able to create, develop, and present a state budget proposal that would have balanced our state budget without raising taxes and/or fees!

...the House of Representatives is set to vote today to approve or disapprove Health and Human Services’ (HHS) rewriting of the 1996 law....

According to Rodney Lau, DHHL administrative services officer, it’s been a common practice to transfer these interest revenues to the operating account every three months....

Areas under discussion include the length of time an EIS is valid, the exemption process, and cultural impacts....

Thursday, September 20 - TOMORROW - from 5-7 p.m. - Waianae District Park (Ewa Beach to Keaau)

As it stands, Native Hawaiian communal lands, property, is going to be open for residency/occupancy to non-native Hawaiians and this must be addressed....

The resolution urges changing Kalaeloa street names in former MCAS Ewa BACK to their ORIGINAL names reflecting those pilots killed in action and awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroism during WW-II....

It's only through your generosity and support that we have the funds to be able to discuss the important issues facing our country today, and the need to elect genuine leaders, like Charles, who have the courage and the character to address those issues.

Governor Linda Lingle signed, SB 665 SDI HD2 CD1 which prohibits "a person representing a health maintenance organization under chapter 4320, a mutual benefit society issuing individual and group hospital or medical service plans under chapter 432, or any other health care organization" from membership on the Council....