WSJ--The U.S. debt is now above its current limit of $14.3 trillion, a figure so large that it is nearly impossible for the average American to comprehend. Under the budget proposed by President Obama for 2012, the debt would rise to $15.7 trillion in 2021. The annual interest alone would be about $700 billion, and that would only increase with inflation. President Obama's proposed budget was so excessive and fiscally irresponsible that it was voted down in the Senate 97-0.

After the Audit became public, Cox called for Martin’s resignation as Chair of the Council’s Budget Committee. But the December, 2010 Community Benefits Audit hasn’t received much media attention. It almost became news June 21--but just before it was to be discussed on the agenda of that day’s Honolulu Council Recreation Committee meeting, Martin’s council ally Ann Kobayashi got up and walked out, denying the committee a quorum and ending the meeting.

“I don’t like the idea of the government snooping,” said Dr. Raymond Scalettar, an internist in Washington. “It’s a pernicious practice — Big Brother tactics, which should be opposed.”

Please come and join us in Makawao on Saturday, July 2nd for the Annual Makawao Paniolo July 4th Parade. TEA Party Maui plans to enter a patriotic float in the Parade....

Iran has also improved its launch capabilities, recently placing a data-gathering satellite into space with its powerful Safir booster rocket. The move will accelerate Iran's program for intercontinental ballistic missiles, bypassing the U.N.'s efforts to control the Islamic Republic and giving it the capability to hit the United States....

The new contract, at a cost of $45.5 million a year, begins July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2014, (in other words, until the next gubernatorial election)....

"One Member of Congress, Delegate Eni Faleomavaega from American Samoa, a co-chair and driving force behind the creation of the Central Asia caucus, particularly stands out. In the 2010 election cycle, two of Faleomavaega’s top organizational contributors had been under contract with the Republic of Kazakhstan...."

For over a year most of Hawaii’s pliant and un-inquisitive media have gone along with the ridiculous story that Koolina developer and Broken Trust player Jeff Stone was donating 300 Makaha acres to Hawaiian Homelands and Kamehameha Schools as “a gift from the heart….”

The new fiscal year begins on July 1st with a mission to change the direction of Hawai'i....Last night we held a community forum at Washington Middle School.... Stay tuned for details about more upcoming forums around the state.

The City’s Department of Budget and Fiscal Services (BFS) has rejected two bid protests regarding the awarding of the core systems contract for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project. BFS found “no procedural or legal violations in any aspect of the procurement” for the contract.

I have introduced resolution 11-109 to start the bidding process over again that could result in saving the taxpayers $250 million and put 150 residents here on Oahu to work building the rail cars.

The demographics for the zip codes 96821, 96822 and 96825 shows approximately 92,000 people.  "It's insane to think that Safeway and Costco can sustain a community and just Hawaii Kai...."

Representative George Fontaine, HD 11, Kīhei, Wailea, Makena, talks with Peter Rosegg with the Hawaiian Electric Company and Maria Tome, Renewable and Transportation Energy Program Manager /Hawaii State Energy Office about Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative.

We were doing a cleanup of Kea`au Beach Park along the Waianae coastline when past Councilman John DeSoto of this area gave a tour of what you see in the video....

Without policy changes, contributions to state and local pension systems in the United States would have to immediately increase by a factor of 2.5, reaching 14.2 percent of the total own-revenue generated by state and local governments (taxes, fees and charges).

This morning, in a scathing editorial entitled "The wrong reason for depleting the strategic oil reserve," the Post argues the White House is likely more focused on a "political emergency" and "the government should not tap the reserve absent a genuine crisis."

Three Progressive schemes Hawaii legislators are trying to implement--and ten more they haven't thought of yet....  

• Raising the retirement age for certain new employees from 55 to 60 years old, and for most others from 62 to 65 years old
• Increasing the number of years for state employees to be “vested” to receive retirement benefits from five years to 10 years.
• Raising the employee and employer contribution rates

Substantial discussions took place at the marathon June 3rd Council meeting concerning the borrowing of more than a hundred million dollars (Bill 40) for the rail system due to offset cash flow problems with the rail project and sagging tax revenues. 

"I have asked all departments to work together in a deliberate and thoughtful process that will identify programs that may be affected. In recent weeks, our administration began discontinuing financial support of programs that are valuable but can no longer be sustained, such as Vanpool Hawai'i and the State Pharmacy Assistance Program. These cuts and others that follow will be difficult but the financial constraints we face allow for no other course of action."

Our office held the meeting on rail because I believe the public has not had an adequate forum to sound off on the project’s blunders. 

This new study explains how states can most effectively drive economic growth, create jobs, and improve the standard of living for their citizens.

 A shared $1 million prize from the Dan David Foundation for his "profound contribution to humanity."

Vanpool Hawaii has announced a new monthly rate of $985 per vanpool group, effective Aug. 1. For a vanpool group of 6 or 7 passengers, that equals a per-person cost of approximately $164 or $141 per month, respectively, or less if shared between more participants.

Why the sudden addition of broadband to the Big Wind cable?

President Barack Obama's health care law would let several million middle class people get nearly free insurance meant for the poor, a twist government number crunchers say they discovered only after the complex bill was signed....

All you are likely to hear about low tax rates from liberals and their echo chamber in the media is that they don't work—that they fail to gin up economic or job growth. Exhibit A for this preposterous proposition is the Bush tax cuts. The left wants you to accept it as conventional wisdom that the policy was a bust.  Don't believe it....

There's urgency in Washington to fix a problem that's been a long time coming: America's fast track to fiscal implosion. In The Heritage Foundation's just-released, expanded 2011 Budget Chart Book, you can see just how bad the country's spending problem is and how America racked up so much debt.

In the below Abercrombie Administration news release—which we have annotated for clarity--there is no mention of any union officials meeting with the US DoE representatives here to evaluate Hawaii’s alleged progress towards RTTT benchmarks.

The key provisions of this act exempt broadband infrastructure improvements from state or county permitting requirements for five years.

Senate conservatives proudly call themselves “Reagan Republicans” because of Reagan’s “Peace Through Strength” military policies. But in Leon Panetta, whose nomination comes up for a full Senate vote for Secretary of Defense on Tuesday, they are being asked to endorse a man whose Congressional career was dedicated to fighting Reagan’s defense build-up and anti-communist policies.

"I respect the President of the United States. He and I have a difference of opinion on how to help a country we both love."

Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) ... received $45,000 from her state's pension program in 2010.

...the Land Use Commission changed the land use boundaries from "urban use to agricultural use while affordable housing was being constructed on the property."

Starting with HB953, a big fat raise for DoE bureaucrats. 

the HECO Companies' proposed Biofuel Surcharge Provision clearly results in an increase in rates that triggers the contested case and public hearing provisions of HRS §269-16(b).

Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: Ethanol subsidies amendment
• House: Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations, FY2012
• House: Agriculture Appropriations, FY2012

 Here is complete video of Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaking today at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans. When he finished, the crowd was on their feet chanting, "Run, Rick, Run!"

When Hawaii Reapportionment Commission members went into closed executive session during their June 15th meeting at the State Capitol, they discovered something rather disconcerting. A small recording device had been left on a chair and it was turned on, recording their every word.

There are 10 basic dimensions that account for the reasons that big projects succeed or fail.... 

Given the tremendous personal, social, and economic costs of broken families, national leaders should seek ways to promote the importance of marriage so that more children can grow up in a stable household and experience the unique benefits of a married mother and father.

Our next town hall meeting will be July 12, 2011 at Makaha Elementary School from 6-9pm.  We will discuss the one-step-up housing feature as is contained in my resolution 11-54 CD1. The Nanakuli Neighborhood Board will also discuss this resolution at their meeting next week.

Please be sure to join us for a public forum on June 23, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Washington Middle School. In addition to words from and Q&A with the Governor and Lt. Gov., there will be brief presentations from Bruce Coppa on our efforts to improve the economy ....

what happens when sea level in the real world does not rise nearly as much as alarmists predict? If you are a NASA-funded gatekeeper of sea level data, you merely doctor the data....

The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced international visitors spent an estimated $12.3 billion on travel to, and tourism-related activities within, the United States during April. This represents a 19 percent increase from April 2010. Travel and tourism-related exports have increased, on average, nearly $1.4 billion a month in 2011.

The Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC) will host the events in coordination with robotics supporters and community partners throughout the state, beginning on June 21 and running through August 28, 2011.

 Sunday 26 June, 2:00pm at the Naniloa Hotel's Polynesian Room in Hilo. Featured speakers are UH School of Law Prof. David Callies, author of the definitive book “Regulating Paradise” and Big Island real estate broker David Turner.

Moody's Investors Service placed the stand-alone bank financial strength rating of First Hawaiian Bank on review for possible downgrade....

The hot water backup system installation is a first step towards ensuring a permanent solution. The state budget for fiscal year 2012 includes $5.6 million in capital improvement funds for a long-term solution to the water heating system at Mayor Wright Homes.