Math problem:  $844M deficit + $728.6M new spending = $1.5726 Billion dollars in new taxes, fees, and/or costs to government employees and retirees.  Cost of Abercrombie: Over $1000 per person in Hawaii.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Likely U.S. Voters agree more with the Republican governor in his dispute with union workers. Thirty-eight percent (38%) agree more with the unionized public employees, while 14% are undecided.

This bill does not provide a healthcare right of conscience exception for hospitals or individuals who object to offering emergency contraception for medical, ethical, moral, or religious reasons. Those who refuse face penalties by state government and could risk discipline from their own employers. This sets a dangerous precedent by allowing the government to mandate what healthcare providers must do, violating individuals' constitutional rights and in effect practicing medicine.

In a survey of 1016 adults during 2010, Gallup found 50.0% lean Democratic while 30.4% lean Republican.   Every US state saw voters walking away from the Democratic Party since the 2008 election of President Barack Obama.   Hawaii Democratic numbers enjoyed the fourth largest decline.

Manufacturers' News reports Hawaii is now home to 1,200 manufacturers employing 21,922 workers.

After campaigning on a promise not to raise taxes and specifically not to raise the GE Tax, Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie this week has promised to sign any GE Tax hike approved by the Legislature. 

The Winter 2011 issue of The People's Pulse is based on statewide telephone interviews among a random sample of 700 adult citizens (400 Oahu, 100 each on Hawai‘i, Maui, and Kauai) from January 4-16, 2011.

The message to shut up and sit down is not being heeded by the Hawaii Family Forum. 

 US Rep David Wu (D-OR)

In his February 11 American Thinker article “The Real ‘Birther’ Conspiracy Theory”, Cashill admits: “The more (Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie and the liberal media) talk about Obama's origins the more attention they focus on that story.”  Cashill's admission comes in his response to my February 6 article, “Hawaii's Governor Manipulates Birthers.”

Cashill is the author of a newly released birther book "Deconstructing Obama."

In its first quarter 2011 economic report, the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) forecasts a strong recovery in Hawai‘i’s economy in 2011 and economic expansion in 2012. DBEDT expects that continued growth in tourism and the recovery in construction in Hawai‘i will help the economy to head on to the expansion path.

KITV reported that the accusations against Dr. Palafox may have been false and driven by two DOH employees he was about to lay off. Information I have confirms that the Federal Government does not view Dr. Palafox as one under any investigation.

The target is to have the three weekly flights operational sometime in 2012 in a three-class format of First Class, Business Class, and Deluxe Economy. The service level must be top-notch in order to attract this market, according to the China-based investor. The investor's vision is to begin operations using two Boeing 767/300 aircraft that would be serviced at Shanghai PVG airport at a special VIP Aloha section only for these Hawaii flights.

Another big winner today was Indiana Representative Mike Pence, whose amendment to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood passed 240-185. The move will cost Planned Parenthood more than $75 million per year, a shortfall it will need to make up by dramatically increasing the prices it charges to pimps for business consulting services….

Undercover videos from six Planned Parenthood locations in three states and DC.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will be headlining the Hawaii GOP’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner.  The Party fundraising event will be held tonight at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Judge Browning’s assignment is effective March 4, 2011. He will succeed Judge Sabrina McKenna, who will be sworn in as an Associate Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court on March 3 at 4:15 p.m. in the Supreme Court Courtroom.

The rating agency, which used data from 2009, said there was cause for near-term concern about “a number of” pension plans and pointed to the “considerable pressure that these obligations will place on many government budgets”. The greatest risk would come at the local level since labour-related costs were a higher percentage of local government budgets, Fitch said.

Our legislators have been busy this session introducing many bills that ban unusual items, or impose taxes, fees, restrictions and mandates on specific product choices for the people of Hawaii.

Neighborhood Commissioners Brendan Bailey and Sylvia Young are pointing to the Carlisle administration as the source of efforts to cancel upcoming Honolulu Neighborhood Board elections. 

What you are observing below is the beginning of what will become a sustained campaign to re-write the history of “The Good War” and “The Greatest Generation” to fit the mold of social-democratic propaganda.  BTW: Dan Inouye is paying for all of this….

On February 11, the Hawaii State House voted 31-19 in favor of SB232 Civil Unions.  But the result was a lot closer than it would seem. If the following seven races had been won by civil unions opponents, and all other State Reps voted as they did in the House on February 11, SB232 Civil Unions would have failed in the House by a vote of 25-26....

Please contact your state Representative and urge him or her to OPPOSE HB 441 and HB 834.

"Colleen Hanabusa and Mazie Hirono are simply two of the most ineffective members of congress in our nation today.  Not only did the two of them fail to stop an amendment eliminating federal funding of the East West Center, even worse, the two of them didn't even bother to show up for work and defend the center on the House floor during debate."

Mitsunaga and Assoc. gave $30,000 to fund Abercrombie’s Inaugural Ball—the top donor.

Oakland, CA voters testify against so-called "Instant Runoff" system now being proposed for Honolulu.

First, HHS missed the deadline mandated by the new law to create high-risk pools for those who could not obtain health insurance due to chronic illness. Next, it didn’t create the two task forces on improving access to health care in Alaska and breast cancer education on time. The list doesn’t end there....

HB1346: Requires new televisions manufactured on or after 7/1/12, with a viewable screen area of 1,400 square inches or less and sold in the State to meet ENERGY STAR efficiency specifications.

The Hawaii State Senate today passed SB 232 as amended by the House.  The bill creates a new family structure called ‘civil unions’ which will be treated as equivalent to marriage.

Lambda Legal and the ACLU filed a lawsuit in July, 2010 after then-Governor Linda Lingle vetoed HB 444, the previous civil unions bill.  The remedy requested in that suit will be provided by this bill, meaning there will be no need for the lawsuit to continue.

“Rep. Paul has strayed to the left of Obama and allied himself with the radical anti-war left by laying the blame on America for the unprovoked attacks of Sept. 11th. Additionally, Rep. Paul has not condemned the 9/11 "Truther" conspiracy theorists that support him, and he has repeatedly insisted, that the United States not bring justice to those who have murdered thousands of our civilians and soldiers at home and abroad...."

How long have I been telling you that the revenues to pay for government are inadequate to pay the cost of government?

It has been at least ten years. Ten years, I think. In that time, the economy has gone down, up, and down—but each down has been deeper and has taken a toll, and each up has not been enough to restore funding levels…as a result government has suffered… It is now a Potemkin Village — a shabby Potemkin Village.

The Senate Committee on Health on Monday voted to remove the non-alcoholic beverage tax from legislation that they voted on.  This is an initial victory for families and consumers across Hawaii!  However, the same committee will be debating a similar beverage tax proposal on Wednesday, February 16 at 2:45 p.m.

... since 2001 federal education spending has already increased by 100 percent. And going back to 1970, it has almost tripled. And what have been the results of this federal “investment” in our future?

The arguments surrounding this emotionally charged issue are varied and complex. Cutting through the rhetoric and euphemisms brings clarity to this issue both from an ethical and moral perspective. It is with this in mind that Hawaii Right to Life has partnered with KALO-TV, channel 38 (cable 25) to broadcast Death as a Salesman: what's wrong with assisted suicide ...

• House: Patriot Act Extensions
• House: United Nations Tax Equalization Refund Act

• Representative Barbara Marumoto addresses concerns on HB1225, which would allow bingo. 
• Rep. Gene Ward addresses Civil Unions on Chamber Floor
• Reps. Riviere and Ward on Tax Credits HB566

Add it all together, and this budget is a ten-year, $1.5 trillion tax hike over present law. 

Rather than continue a cycle of dependence with streams of anonymous government checks, policymakers can take steps to remove disincentives to marriage and demonstrate how healthy marital relationships can lead to self-sufficiency.

"As soon as the governor signs the final bill, Hawaii should move swiftly to finish the job by ending exclusion from marriage itself..." --Evan Wolfson, co-counsel in 1993 gay marriage case, Baehr v. Miike

Just two months into his term, Neil Abercrombie has led Hawaii politics into chaos.  From the White House to Honolulu Hale, progressive Democrats are duking it out with the old boys. 

 "A study of 11 other state education lotteries showed that states are likely to decrease their growth of spending for education upon operating a lottery designated for that purpose."

"This decrease occurs regardless of the revenue generated by the lottery," Sanders added. "Meanwhile, states without lotteries maintained and increased their education spending more than states with lotteries."

"I'll tell you this: We vetted him as carefully as anybody could be vetted and looked into his background, his family, his relationships," said John Radcliffe, a lobbyist who was part of the transition team that reviewed Abercrombie's Cabinet picks.

HB1627 which would create a State-run Indian Tribe will be heard by the House Judiciary Committee Thursday February 17, 2011.

During 2010 most Kona coffee went to Afghanistan , where it was very highly welcomed and appreciated.  Some also went to the P.I. and now here at the end of the year I am once again sending Kona coffee to the 25th Infantry Division folks who have recently deployed to Camp Liberty, Iraq.

Mayor Alan Arakawa will be attending and will make opening remarks, as well as speaking about his plans for West Maui....

Labor-Trafficking bill is SB960 with its identical House Companion HB577

Sex-Trafficking bill is SB959 with its identical House Companion HB576