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    Governor Names 45 to Boards, Commissions

    Hawaii Reporter
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    Gov. Linda Lingle released the names of 45 new appointees for various state boards and commissions to fill vacant positions or to replace current members whose terms are expiring.

    The Office of the Governor oversees more than 135 boards and commissions that are established by the state constitution, state statutes or executive orders.

    Since taking office in December, Governor Lingle has actively encouraged residents around the state to apply to serve on a board or commission.

    The applicants were screened and interviewed by the administration, including the Governor who personally interviewed some candidates for key positions.

    Here are some of the appointed yesterday:

    ”Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service:” Robert I. Crowell, Dennis M. Dunn, MaBel Ferreiro-Fujiuchi, Stacy S.K. Higa, Scott S. Morishige, Lee A. Rombaoa, Ralph Stueber

    ”Hawaii School-To-Work Executive Council:” Nobleza E. Magsanoc, Albert S. Nishimura, Kevin Yoshino

    ”Hawaii Teacher Standards Board:” Annette Masutani, Vicki L. Morrison, Vaughn Tokashiki

    ”State Foundation on Culture and the Arts:” Gae Bergquist-Trommald

    ”King Kamehameha Celebration Commission:” William D. Souza

    ”Island of Hawai`i Island Burial Council:” Gail U. Keli`ikoa-Sherlock

    ”State Council on Developmental Disabilities:” Donna P. Bishaw, Elvira Lee

    ”Disability and Communication Access Board:” Anthony S. Akamine, Roland Awa, Richard R. Chaves, Sharon Fountain, Francine M. Kenyon, Lucy Miller, PhD, Patricia Nielsen

    ”Statewide Independent Living Council:” Diana C. Tizard

    ”State Board of Chiropractic Examiners:” Craig R. Benzel

    ”Board of Dental Examiners:” Jeffrey K. Miyazawa

    ”Board of Massage Therapy:” Wilfred S. Pang

    ”State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology:” Kau`i Alapa, Cristobol J. Quintana

    ”Environmental Council:” Shad S. Kane

    ”Kaneohe Bay Regional Council:” David A. Krupp, PhD, Robin Gay Makapagal

    ”Molokai Irrigation System Water Users Advisory Board:” George W. Maioho

    ”Agribusiness Development Corporation Board of Directors:” Eric D. Weinert

    ”Small Business Regulatory Review Board:” Denise Walker

    ”Real Estate Commission:” Marshall D. Chinen

    ”Rental Housing Trust Fund Advisory Council:” Becky L. Hayashida

    ”Civil Defense Advisory Council:” Captain Gerald L. Coffee, U.S. Navy (ret.)

    ”Crime Victim Compensation Commission:” Garry Smith

    ”Board of Registration, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kaho’olawe:” Steve Pfister

    ”Board of Trustees of the Deferred Compensation Plan:” Ryan S. Ushijima

    ”Board of Directors of the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund:” Thomas Singlehurst

    ”State Boxing Commission of Hawaii:” Willes Lee

    ”’For a complete list of boards and commissions or to apply to serve, visit the governor’s Web site at:”’
    https://gov.state.hi.us/team/boardscommissions.html

    Victory in Waimea Valley

    Hawaii Reporter
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    After a 3-year saga, the City & County of Honolulu announced [yesterday] that the National Audubon Society was awarded the long-term management contract for Waimea Valley, Oahu.

    While the contract award must now be approved by the full City Council, it is expected to pass easily at the next City Council meeting on April 30, 2003.

    This is a momentous occasion and a real turning point for Waimea Valley, the North Shore Community, and the citizens of Oahu — if not for the entire state.

    Under Audubon’s capable management, the Valley can now begin to fulfill its great promise and become Oahu’s premier park; a valuable resource to educate Waimea’s visitors about authentic Hawaiian culture and history.

    Many, many people have contributed to the community realizing their vision and we wish to recognize their important role in seeing this happen.

    It just goes to show what great things can take place when people organize at the grass roots and persist.

    ”’Scott Foster is the Communications Director for the Stewards of Waimea Valley. He can be reached via email at:”’ mailto:fosters005@Hawaii.rr.com

    Long-term Care Plan is Like Quicksand

    Hawaii Reporter
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    “Dick Rowland Image”

    The lead editorial position in the Honolulu Advertiser on April 13, 2003, “Hawaii long-term care must start somewhere” concluded that the proposed horrible $20 per month per couple tax to provide a government-run long-term care “insurance” plan was something to build on.

    Wrong.

    First, it is not insurance any more than is Social Security. Both are Ponzi schemes, immoral and legal only by government fiat.

    Second, it is a denial of personal choice, by government force or threat of force.

    Third, it is a denial of humanness.

    If, as the editorial says, it is “our obligation to make old age more comfortable for those who cannot afford private health insurance” then it actually means that we are to handle human beings who decide not to protect themselves as we would animals in a zoo. We (society) will ration their care and feeding and make sure their keepers are inspected.

    It reminds me of the “proles” in Orwell’s “1984” who, not being members of the ruling party, were kept for menial work and tolerated like household pets (minus any love and affection).

    Finally, the economic shock of a $240 per year, per couple loss of income will further cripple an already struggling economy.

    Where to start? Treat humans as humans. Expect them to be responsible for themselves and most will do so. Those that do not will suffer consequences. Many of us will help those unfortunate ones out of human compassion.

    This start point can be expressed in three words: Individual self-government which is an ability open only to human beings as we “pursue happiness.”

    To expect less is to get less — much less. Thus, it is quicksand; never a prudent choice for a foundation which is to carry a heavy load.

    ”’Richard O. Rowland is president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. He can be reached via email at:”’ mailto:grassroot@hawaii.rr.com

    Ed-Biz: Boehner's Quiet Revolution

    Hawaii Reporter
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    0

    CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 16 (UPI) — Even in its early stages, President George W. Bush’s “No Child Left Behind Act,” signed in January 2002 and just beginning to bear fruit, illustrates two important dynamics in education reform.

    First, one congressman and a few individual teachers can make a big difference. And second, you can improve the education that millions of students get, even if only a few thousand students actually change classrooms — provided you change the incentives and options available to parents.

    These two facts became clear at a conference last weekend at the Harvard University Law School, one of the first such academic gatherings to assess, albeit early in the game, the impact of Bush’s reform.

    The conference, organized by Brooke Richie and a small group of students, gave testimony to the value of individual and small-group initiative. With only a few weeks’ notice, the students threw together an impressive panel of officials and research papers from members of Congress, leading scholars and state officials, and the Department of Education.

    The most important discussion — because the topic was so vital — concerned the progress of a too-little-understood provision of the act, the “public school choice” policy for “schools that need to improve.”

    This provision essentially covers schools that don’t meet performance standards under a previous (1994) education reform act. Students at such schools may transfer to local public schools that perform better.

    The clause was inserted in the House-Senate conference over the bill by Ohio Rep. John Boehner, chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, and one of the brightest stars in the GOP galaxy. In this, he had some indirect help from a Teacher Choice group that met in the summer of 2001 to ponder the problem that No Child Left Behind, as it then stood, didn’t apply many of its testing and other incentives until as late as 2014.

    A Florida public school teacher, Ira Paul, mentioned to several of Boehner’s colleagues that these too-delayed incentives might be sped up by establishing a choice provision, for public schools only, right away. Public school choice is something even former President Bill Clinton had endorsed — strongly — in his 2000 State of the Union address.

    Some of the colleagues reportedly passed the idea along to Boehner, who made his opportune insertion in conference, and a handful of public school teachers had just improved schools for hundreds of thousands of students.

    How is it doing? According to an estimate by the Alexis de Tocqueville Institution, or AdTI — based on data from five states and three cities — at least 120,000 students have applied for transfers, and more than 50,000 have achieved them.

    The Department of Education, according to senior aide Mike Petrilli, is in the process of compiling information from the 50 states in order to provide hard numbers to the AdTI survey projection.

    “That’s not much,” one of the Harvard students noted. “What happens to the other couple of million students that are still ‘left behind’ by the act?”

    The short answer is, of course, even if something only improves the life of one student, it’s progress. The thing to do then is extend the program, so more students take part.

    According to a paper Boehner submitted to AdTI, to be published later as part of the conference record, the program has the potential to liberate students in an estimated 8,652 schools — approximately 4 million children overall.

    The longer answer is, even if 90 percent or more of those students are “left behind” in failing public schools — which will be the result of a choice by their parents — it doesn’t follow that their education isn’t improved. The program, by changing incentives and opportunities, has an impact on every school that’s under-performing, and thereby, on every student in those schools.

    In Milwaukee, less than 5 percent of the parents have taken advantage of a $5,000 education voucher to send their kids to a private school. But the public and charter schools, noting which way the students are moving, have been beside themselves to improve. And they have.

    Similarly, in Harlem, Seattle and Minnesota, which have pre-existing public school choice programs, only a small number of students have actually changed schools. Yet test performance has improved at all schools, and parents note that their public school administrators are a lot more customer-friendly.

    And the act is still in its early phases of implementation, and many parents around the country don’t even know they are now free to choose among local public schools. In New York City, parents had to file a lawsuit to get the city and state education departments to send out mandatory information letters, and start implementing the program faithfully.

    This process in itself has produced a useful pressure on school boards and teacher union officials around the country. In some wealthy districts in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and other cities, local high-performing schools have resisted allowing students in, claiming there isn’t room, they can’t handle the transfer paperwork, and so on.

    We will find out, in the coming years, who the real civil rights advocates are — those who watch such foot-dragging without making any protest, or those who hold the education bureaucracy’s feet to the fire.

    The program has attracted little attention so far, for various reasons.

    Some school voucher advocates dismiss the provision’s importance because it applies only to public school choice — rather than providing a private school option, or voucher. Casey Lartigue, a Cato Institute fellow who took part in the Harvard conference, noted this shortcoming, wondering whether the act, providing a tiny modicum of choice to a small number of parents, and no private-school option, isn’t perhaps unlikely to meet its ambitious goals.

    Voucher opponents, such as the National Education Association and the National School Boards Association, aren’t opposed to the Boehner provision, but they aren’t particularly excited about it.

    Their reform agenda essentially boils down to three items: One, more money; two, more money, and three, right away, and without any standards or performance requirements, please. Every business in America is having to produce more with less, by increasing productivity, but not education.

    Still, the Bush act, and especially Boehner’s choice insertion, is working a quiet revolution in America’s public schools. It hasn’t been noticed yet, because the “average student” hasn’t changed schools. Then again, on about 95 percent of the days of the year, it doesn’t snow in Buffalo.

    ”'”Ed-biz” focuses on the dynamic, cutting edge of change in education, as business generates alternatives to public education, and promotes change within public education. Gregory Fossedal is a contributing editor to Educationnews.org”’

    Copyright 2003 by United Press International. All rights reserved.

    Ed-Biz: Boehner’s Quiet Revolution

    Hawaii Reporter
    -
    0

    CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 16 (UPI) — Even in its early stages, President George W. Bush’s “No Child Left Behind Act,” signed in January 2002 and just beginning to bear fruit, illustrates two important dynamics in education reform.

    First, one congressman and a few individual teachers can make a big difference. And second, you can improve the education that millions of students get, even if only a few thousand students actually change classrooms — provided you change the incentives and options available to parents.

    These two facts became clear at a conference last weekend at the Harvard University Law School, one of the first such academic gatherings to assess, albeit early in the game, the impact of Bush’s reform.

    The conference, organized by Brooke Richie and a small group of students, gave testimony to the value of individual and small-group initiative. With only a few weeks’ notice, the students threw together an impressive panel of officials and research papers from members of Congress, leading scholars and state officials, and the Department of Education.

    The most important discussion — because the topic was so vital — concerned the progress of a too-little-understood provision of the act, the “public school choice” policy for “schools that need to improve.”

    This provision essentially covers schools that don’t meet performance standards under a previous (1994) education reform act. Students at such schools may transfer to local public schools that perform better.

    The clause was inserted in the House-Senate conference over the bill by Ohio Rep. John Boehner, chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, and one of the brightest stars in the GOP galaxy. In this, he had some indirect help from a Teacher Choice group that met in the summer of 2001 to ponder the problem that No Child Left Behind, as it then stood, didn’t apply many of its testing and other incentives until as late as 2014.

    A Florida public school teacher, Ira Paul, mentioned to several of Boehner’s colleagues that these too-delayed incentives might be sped up by establishing a choice provision, for public schools only, right away. Public school choice is something even former President Bill Clinton had endorsed — strongly — in his 2000 State of the Union address.

    Some of the colleagues reportedly passed the idea along to Boehner, who made his opportune insertion in conference, and a handful of public school teachers had just improved schools for hundreds of thousands of students.

    How is it doing? According to an estimate by the Alexis de Tocqueville Institution, or AdTI — based on data from five states and three cities — at least 120,000 students have applied for transfers, and more than 50,000 have achieved them.

    The Department of Education, according to senior aide Mike Petrilli, is in the process of compiling information from the 50 states in order to provide hard numbers to the AdTI survey projection.

    “That’s not much,” one of the Harvard students noted. “What happens to the other couple of million students that are still ‘left behind’ by the act?”

    The short answer is, of course, even if something only improves the life of one student, it’s progress. The thing to do then is extend the program, so more students take part.

    According to a paper Boehner submitted to AdTI, to be published later as part of the conference record, the program has the potential to liberate students in an estimated 8,652 schools — approximately 4 million children overall.

    The longer answer is, even if 90 percent or more of those students are “left behind” in failing public schools — which will be the result of a choice by their parents — it doesn’t follow that their education isn’t improved. The program, by changing incentives and opportunities, has an impact on every school that’s under-performing, and thereby, on every student in those schools.

    In Milwaukee, less than 5 percent of the parents have taken advantage of a $5,000 education voucher to send their kids to a private school. But the public and charter schools, noting which way the students are moving, have been beside themselves to improve. And they have.

    Similarly, in Harlem, Seattle and Minnesota, which have pre-existing public school choice programs, only a small number of students have actually changed schools. Yet test performance has improved at all schools, and parents note that their public school administrators are a lot more customer-friendly.

    And the act is still in its early phases of implementation, and many parents around the country don’t even know they are now free to choose among local public schools. In New York City, parents had to file a lawsuit to get the city and state education departments to send out mandatory information letters, and start implementing the program faithfully.

    This process in itself has produced a useful pressure on school boards and teacher union officials around the country. In some wealthy districts in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and other cities, local high-performing schools have resisted allowing students in, claiming there isn’t room, they can’t handle the transfer paperwork, and so on.

    We will find out, in the coming years, who the real civil rights advocates are — those who watch such foot-dragging without making any protest, or those who hold the education bureaucracy’s feet to the fire.

    The program has attracted little attention so far, for various reasons.

    Some school voucher advocates dismiss the provision’s importance because it applies only to public school choice — rather than providing a private school option, or voucher. Casey Lartigue, a Cato Institute fellow who took part in the Harvard conference, noted this shortcoming, wondering whether the act, providing a tiny modicum of choice to a small number of parents, and no private-school option, isn’t perhaps unlikely to meet its ambitious goals.

    Voucher opponents, such as the National Education Association and the National School Boards Association, aren’t opposed to the Boehner provision, but they aren’t particularly excited about it.

    Their reform agenda essentially boils down to three items: One, more money; two, more money, and three, right away, and without any standards or performance requirements, please. Every business in America is having to produce more with less, by increasing productivity, but not education.

    Still, the Bush act, and especially Boehner’s choice insertion, is working a quiet revolution in America’s public schools. It hasn’t been noticed yet, because the “average student” hasn’t changed schools. Then again, on about 95 percent of the days of the year, it doesn’t snow in Buffalo.

    ”'”Ed-biz” focuses on the dynamic, cutting edge of change in education, as business generates alternatives to public education, and promotes change within public education. Gregory Fossedal is a contributing editor to Educationnews.org”’

    Copyright 2003 by United Press International. All rights reserved.

    The Peter Principles: Post War Planning

    Hawaii Reporter
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    WASHINGTON, April 14 (UPI) — Few expected the Saddamite regime in Iraq to fall as quickly as it did. The ominous pre-war predictions of anti-U.S. riots in Arab streets and coalition forces bogged down in a desert quagmire have been proven wrong. The toppling of Saddam’s statute in Baghdad has become a metaphor for the collapse of a 25-year reign of terror.

    Coalition forces have shifted focus and are securing cities, providing healthcare and food to Iraqis and setting the stage for an indigenous government to eventually take power through democratic elections.

    Whether the tasks ahead constitute nation building is of little importance save to partisan activists always looking for avenues to attack George W. Bush. The U.S.-led coalition that ousted Hussein now has the responsibility to help the democratic process take root. If that is nation building, so be it.

    The task is just shy of monumental, one in which the United States is going to play the central role. The United Nations, as well as significant sovereign states like Russia and France, lodged objections. They asked, insisted even, that they be included in the rebuilding process despite their opposition to the war.

    These are not settled issues. How they are resolved may set the course of U.S. foreign policy for decades to come.

    The principled objection to Russia, France and Germany’s participation in the rebuilding process arises out of their refusal to support Saddam’s ouster by force. No one who failed to contribute to his removal, the reasoning goes, should be allowed a share of the spoils.

    While understandable, this thinking is outdated.

    The purpose of the Iraq war was to free the Iraqi people from oppression and to guarantee the safety of the United States and its allies. Blood was shed to fend off the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction believed to have been in the regime

    Grassroot Perspective – April 17, 2003-Presidents Day: A Dissenting Opinion; The Future of Medicaid: Consumer-Directed Care; Bad Medicine

    Hawaii Reporter
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    “Dick Rowland Image”

    ”Shoots (News, Views and Quotes)”

    – Presidents Day: A Dissenting Opinion

    From the Independent Institute

    Every U.S. president gets some doses of criticism while in office —
    a few have even suffered mass unpopularity for several years after
    their term expired. But for the most part, the office of the
    presidency is hailed by the public and the punditry as one of the
    cornerstones of American political culture — the institution that
    gives the American experiment in self-government badly needed
    “direction,” thereby making it “work.”

    True, no American president is on par with the worst of history’s
    butchers and kleptocrats. But should this be the standard for
    measuring presidential character? Maintaining a proper perspective
    about American government should not mean overlooking the habitual
    lying, stealing from the public purse, circumvention of the
    constitutional division of powers, and other anti-social mischief
    characteristic of U.S. presidents — although this is the implication
    of the federal holiday called Presidents’ Day.

    Readers of THE LIGHTHOUSE have read much in the past year about moral
    failings of Abraham Lincoln, perhaps the most lionized of American
    presidents. Honest Abe’s arrest or intimidation of “seditious”
    newspaper editors alone should be enough to earn him low marks, but
    America’s collective amnesia is severe.

    However, a major failure of another very popular president —
    Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s signing of Executive Order 9066 — which
    authorized the round-up of 120,000 innocent Japanese-Americans and
    their relocation to “protective” interment camps — has been
    receiving great attention of late. With a little luck, the result
    could mean that on February 19th of each year — the anniversary of
    FDR’s interment order — the nation will publicly recognize that all
    has not been right with the institution of the presidency. Surely,
    that would add a measure of balance in a country seemingly enamored
    with the celebrity of its popularly elected autocrats.

    Above article is quoted from Independent Institute, The Lighthouse,
    “Enlightening Ideas for Public Policy…” Volume 5, Issue 7, Feb.
    17, 2003 https://www.independent.org

    – The Future of Medicaid: Consumer-Directed Care

    By James Frogue

    Backgrounder No. 1618, The Heritage Foundation

    Arkansas,New Jersey, and Florida were the first states to be granted
    Section 1115 waivers to participate in a demonstration project designed
    to empower certain disabled Medicaid beneficiaries by giving them a cash
    allowance with which to purchase needed services. At the national level,
    this experiment is called the Cash and Counseling program. Its initial
    successes explode the myth that Medicaid beneficiaries are not capable
    of making their own decisions: Satisfaction rates approach 100 percent.
    States should adopt the Cash and Counseling approach for as many Section
    1915c beneficiaries and services as possible, and expand the consumer
    direction approach to other categories of Medicaid beneficiaries via the
    Section 1115 waiver process. The Bush Administration has shown itself to
    be very supportive of empowering Medicaid beneficiaries in this manner
    and very willing to approve waivers to this end. States should take full
    advantage of this opportunity.

    Above article is quoted from Heritage Foundation, The Insider 2/2003
    https://www.heritage.org

    ”Roots (Food for Thought)”

    – Bad Medicine

    By Sheldon Richman, March 21, 2003

    Those who have been hungering for a real political debate in this
    country can’t help but be deliriously overcome with the news that CBS’s
    60 Minutes will feature 10 face-offs between former Democratic President
    Bill Clinton and former Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole. The
    history of political thought will never be the same.

    Think of it: the maudlin advocate of the “third way” — that is, the
    middle ground between freedom and tyranny — will square off against the
    acerbic former senator who so richly earned the title “Tax Collector for
    the Welfare State.” Now that’s a debate the American people can get
    their teeth into.

    I was about to ask what the CBS suits could have been thinking, but then
    I realized that this pairing exquisitely reflects the state of political
    debate in America today. Once people in this country argued over whether
    government should be big and pushy or small and demure. But those days
    are gone. Now the argument is over how you like your coercive meddling:
    direct or indirect. Either way, there will be coercive meddling by the
    ham-handed state. So Clinton and Dole are perfect representatives of the
    political views that dominate accepted thinking.

    There are exceptions to this lineup, but roughly it goes like this: the
    Democrats’ program has government providing things to people directly,
    while the Republicans’ program has government subsidizing private
    companies to provide the same things. This is passes for black and white
    in the current scene. But as anyone with a moral sense should be able to
    see, these are colors barely distinguishable from each other.

    A few examples: The Democrats want government to dispense schooling to
    the nation’s children. They might like the federal government to do it,
    but they’ll settle for the state and local governments, as long as from
    their Washington perches they can dictate what goes on in the classroom.
    If parents don’t like it, they can lump it. The Republicans will have
    none of this. Under President Bush, state and local governments ladle
    out learning also under Washington’s supervision, but if that’s not
    satisfactory, he will let parents take their kids to other government
    schools. He might even consider letting them move their kids to
    nongovernment schools brought to heel by government-controlled funding.
    This is called vouchers.

    To us recalcitrants there is less difference here than meets the eye. In
    both cases, dispensers of the government money ultimately call the
    shots. The Republicans do it by an indirect route and call it “school
    choice.” But government is the death, not the fount, of choice. Real
    choice would let parents keep their money and buy education in the free
    market.

    Another example is prescription-drug coverage for the elderly. The
    Democrats want to add it to Medicare. (I’d sooner bunk with a pit bull
    than believe their cost estimates.) The Bush Republicans will have none
    of this “socialized medicine.” Their plan would also offer drug
    discounts — bigger ones if the elderly go into private managed-care
    arrangements. They promise to spend less than the Democrats.

    The distance between those two positions is an illusion. In both cases,
    the money would come from the taxpayers and be controlled by the
    bureaucrats. The Democrats would deal with the drug companies, the
    Republicans with the HMOs. Either way, strings will be attached and the
    medical marketplace will be further hampered from efficiently providing
    life-saving products and services.

    The Democrats are honest. They say they want a monster government
    bureaucracy controlling drug prices and giving orders to the
    pharmaceutical industry. The administration is dishonest, or maybe just
    dumb. It wants to subsidize private medical plans, while telling us that
    this “free-enterprise approach” will control costs. But it is not a
    free-enterprise approach at all.

    The Bush plan, like the Democrats’ alternative, still has government in
    the middle of the medical system. A bureaucracy will control the money.
    A bureaucracy will set the standards. A bureaucracy will enforce its
    expectations. When the plan doesn’t work — when costs skyrocket — there
    will be a clamor for more controls. This is far different from the free
    market, in which entrepreneurs prosper by satisfying consumers.

    Whichever plan gets the nod, it’ll be bad medicine.

    Sheldon Richman is senior fellow at The Future of Freedom Foundation in
    Fairfax, Va., author of Tethered Citizens: Time to Repeal the Welfare
    State, and editor of Ideas on Liberty magazine.

    Above article is quoted from The Future of Freedom Foundation,
    Commentaries 3/21/03 https://www.fff.org

    ”Evergreen (Today’s Quote)”

    “When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will
    herald the end of the republic.” — Benjamin Franklin

    ”’Edited by Richard O. Rowland, president of Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. He can be reached at (808) 487-4959 or by email at:”’ mailto:grassroot@hawaii.rr.com ”’For more information, see its Web site at:”’ https://www.grassrootinstitute.org/

    From Being Affectionate to Questioning Hypnosis

    Hawaii Reporter
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    0

    “Suzanne Gelb Image”

    ”Affection – When is it Ok?”

    Dear Dr. Gelb:

    I went on four dates with this lady and we had fun. On the 5th date we enjoyed a humorous moment in a bookstore as we thumbed through an entertaining book, so I thought it was ok to give her a friendly hug. She got offended. Did I do something wrong?

    Hugs

    Dear Hugs:

    I don’t see anything wrong. If anything, it appears that “the offended” may have been inappropriate. Such a response could be reflecting a fear of intimacy.

    ”Hypnosis – What is it?”

    Dear Dr. Gelb:

    I heard you are a clinical hypnotherapist. What is hypnotherapy, can everyone be hypnotized?

    Possibly Interested, but Skeptical

    Dear Interested:

    A study of the art of hypnosis could provide a comprehensive response to your question. Short of that, a simple explanation is that hypnosis can be understood as a process that can take one into a state of relaxation where the critical (discerning) factor of the conscious mind does not interfere with positive suggestions as offered by the hypnotherapist.

    ”’Suzanne J. Gelb, Ph.D., J.D. authors this daily column, Dr. Gelb Says, which answers questions about daily living and behavior issues. Dr. Gelb is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Honolulu. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Human Services. Dr. Gelb is also a published author of a book on Overcoming Addictions and a book on Relationships.”’

    ”’This column is intended for entertainment use only and is not intended for the purpose of psychological diagnosis, treatment or personalized advice. For more about the column’s purpose, see”’ “An Online Intro to Dr. Gelb Says”

    ”’Email your questions to mailto:DrGelbSays@hawaiireporter.com More information on Dr. Gelb’s services and related resources available at”’ https://www.DrGelbSays.com

    Legislative Hearing Notices – April 17, 2003

    Hawaii Reporter
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    0

    The following hearing notices, which are subject to change, were sorted and taken from the Hawaii State Capitol Web site. Please check that site for updates and/or changes to the schedule at

    “Hawaii State Legislature Sidebar”

    Go there and click on the Hearing Date to view the Hearing Notice.

    Hearings notices for both House and Senate measures in all committees:

    Hearing

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 8:30 AM HB192 HD1 SD1 RELATING TO ACCRETED LANDS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 8:30 AM HB192 HD1 SD1 RELATING TO ACCRETED LANDS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 8:30 AM HR70 HD1 REQUESTING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO SERVE 100 PERCENT HAWAII-GROWN COFFEE AT THE WHITE HOUSE. EDB

    4/17/03 8:30 AM HCR68 HD1 REQUESTING THE BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO EXPLORE THE LEASING OF UNUTILIZED FAST AND SUBMERGED LANDS AT KEEHI LAGOON FOR THE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT OF BOATING AND OCEAN RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. WLA

    4/17/03 8:30 AM HCR157 HD1 FORMALIZING THE ONGOING EFFORTS OF THE AGRICULTURE WORKING GROUP IN ADDRESSING THE MANDATE OF ARTICLE XI, SECTION 3 OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION AND RELATED AGRICULTURAL AND LAND ISSUES. WLA

    4/17/03 8:30 AM HCR223 HD1 CONCERNING CERTAIN PUBLIC LEASES. WLA

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 8:40 AM HB1212 HD1 SD1 RELATING TO LAND EXCHANGES. CONFERENCE

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 8:45 AM SCR54 CREATING A WORKING GROUP OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM HAWAIIAN ORGANIZATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO FORM A COALITION TO PROVIDE BETTER ACCESS TO STATE VITAL STATISTICS RECORDS. WLH

    4/17/03 8:45 AM SCR55 SD1 REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BIOPROSPECTING ADVISORY COMMISSION TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE PRESERVATION AND USE OF THE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES OF THE TRUST LANDS. WLH

    4/17/03 8:45 AM SCR155 SD1 URGING ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION TO COMPLETE THE ASSESSMENT AND SETTLEMENT OF NATIVE HAWAIIAN INDIVIDUAL TRUST CLAIMS.(AMENDED TITLE) WLH

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 9:00 AM SB295 SD1 HD1 RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE TOWING. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 9:00 AM SB374 SD1 HD1 RELATING TO REAL ESTATE. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 9:00 AM SB394 HD1 RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM PROPERTY REGIMES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 9:00 AM SB1049 SD1 HD1 RELATING TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 9:00 AM SB1058 SD1 HD1 RELATING TO CAPTIVE INSURANCE. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 9:00 AM SB1200 SD1 HD1 RELATING TO CAPTIVE INSURANCE. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 9:00 AM SB1306 HD1 RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 9:00 AM SB1589 SD1 HD1 RELATING TO NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 9:00 AM SB1630 HD1 RELATING TO NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 9:00 AM SCR5 EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE MILITARY AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HAWAII IN ITS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL STATIONED IN HAWAII. PSM

    4/17/03 9:00 AM SCR44 URGING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER GRANTING FEDERAL VETERANS EQUITY BENEFITS AND SERVICES TO FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERANS, THEIR SPOUSES, AND THEIR CHILDREN. PSM

    4/17/03 9:00 AM SCR105 SD1 URGING THE UNITED STATES ARMY, AIR FORCE, AND NAVY TO SELECT A CONTRACTOR WITH LOCAL PARTNERS AND A HISTORY OF DOING BUSINESS IN HAWAII FOR THE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE.(AMENDED TITLE) PSM

    4/17/03 9:00 AM SCR176 SD1 URGING THE U.S. CONGRESS TO DISCONTINUE MILITARY BASE CLOSURES IN THE STATE OF HAWAII AND ESTABLISHING A BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSING COMMITTEE TO PRESERVE LOCAL BASES. (AMENDED TITLE) PSM

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 9:45 AM SCR51 SD1 REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO SUBMIT A REPORT ON THE STATUS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF STUDENT FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS. HED

    4/17/03 9:45 AM SCR151 SD1 SUPPORTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII’S RESEARCH ENTERPRISE AND REQUESTING THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A FIVE YEAR PLAN FOR ITS EXPANSION. HED

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 10:00 AM HB10 HD2 SD1 RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:00 AM HB807 HD2 SD2 RELATING TO CHAPTER 291E. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:00 AM HB993 SD1 RELATING TO RECONSTRUCTED VEHICLES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:00 AM HB1230 HD1 SD2 RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:00 AM HB1247 SD1 MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CONTRAFLOW LANE ON FARRINGTON HIGHWAY ALONG THE WAIANAE COAST FROM MOHIHI STREET TO PILIOKAHI AVENUE. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:00 AM HB1328 HD1 SD1 RELATING TO THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:00 AM HB1607 HD2 SD1 RELATING TO AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:00 AM SB44 SD2 HD2 RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:00 AM SB464 SD2 HD2 RELATING TO IMPLEMENTATION OF A FIXED RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:00 AM SB1051 HD2 RELATING TO PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:00 AM HR80 URGING THE BUREAU OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATIONS SERVICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO RECOGNIZE HAWAII’S CATHOLIC SCHOOLS AS LICENSED SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII. EDN

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB29 HD1 SD1 RELATING TO MEAL BREAKS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB50 HD2 SD1 RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC EMPLOYEES HEALTH FUND. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB130 HD1 SD2 RELATING TO PENSION AND RETIREMENT SYSTEMS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB287 HD3 SD2 RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB290 HD2 SD1 RELATING TO UNEMPLOYMENT. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB294 SD1 RELATING TO TEMPORARY HEALTH INSURANCE FOR UNEMPLOYED PERSONS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB385 HD2 SD2 RELATING TO THE PREVENTION OF WORKPLACE VIOLENCE. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB531 SD1 RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB968 HD1 SD1 RELATING TO UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB986 HD2 SD2 RELATING TO DEATH BENEFITS OF SURVIVING CHILDREN OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB1013 HD3 SD2 RELATING TO EXAMINATIONS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF PERMANENT IMPAIRMENT. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB1042 SD1 MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB1043 SD1 MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR SALARY INCREASES FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB1044 SD1 RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB1045 SD1 MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB1046 SD1 MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB1047 SD1 MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB1157 SD2 RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB1198 HD2 SD2 RELATING TO CHILD LABOR. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HB1333 AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR POLIPOLI ACCESS ROAD. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM SB205 SD3 HD2 RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM SB687 SD1 HD1 RELATING TO LEAVES OF ABSENCE. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM SB768 SD1 HD2 RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM SB773 HD2 RELATING TO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM SB789 SD1 HD2 RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM SB931 SD2 HD2 RELATING TO HAWAII VICTIMS LEAVE ACT. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM SB1070 HD1 RELATING TO EXAMINATIONS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF PERMANENT IMPAIRMENT. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM SB1309 SD2 HD2 RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM SB1312 SD1 HD2 RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM SB1332 SD2 HD2 RELATING TO THE COMPENSATION OF OFFICIALS IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF STATE GOVERNMENT. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM SB1373 SD1 HD1 RELATING TO STAFFING FOR FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM SB1438 HD1 MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM SB1439 HD1 MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR SALARY INCREASES FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM SB1440 HD1 RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM SB1441 HD1 MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM SB1442 HD1 MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM SB1443 HD1 MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM SB1444 HD1 MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM SB1445 HD1 RELATING TO STATE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES EXCLUDED FROM COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND MAKING APPROPRIATIONS AND OTHER ADJUSTMENTS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:30 AM GM282 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Gubernatorial Nominee KAU`I ALAPA, for a term to expire 06-30-07. CPH

    4/17/03 10:30 AM GM283 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, CHRISTOBAL J. QUINTANA, for a term to expire 06-30-07. CPH

    4/17/03 10:30 AM GM284 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the State Boxing Commission of Hawai`i, Gubernatorial Nominee WILLES LEE, for a term to expire 06-30-04. CPH

    4/17/03 10:30 AM GM285 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Gubernatorial Nominee CRAIG R. BENZEL, for a term to expire 06-30-07. CPH

    4/17/03 10:30 AM GM286 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Gubernatorial Nominee HUBERT MINN, for a term to expire 06-30-06. CPH

    4/17/03 10:30 AM GM291 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Board of Dental Examiners, Gubernatorial Nominee JEFFREY K. MIYAZAWA, for a term to expire 06-30-07. CPH

    4/17/03 10:30 AM GM305 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Board of Directors of the Hawai’i Hurricane Relief Fund, Gubernatorial Nominee THOMAS SINGLEHURST, for a term to expire 06-30-07. CPH

    4/17/03 10:30 AM GM312 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Board of Massage Therapy, Gubernatorial Nominee WILFRED S. PANG, for a term to expire 06-30-07. CPH

    4/17/03 10:30 AM GM322 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Real Estate Commission, Gubernatorial Nominee MARSHALL D. CHINEN, for a term to expire 06-30-04. CPH

    4/17/03 10:30 AM GM324 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Rental Housing Trust Fund Advisory Commission, Gubernatorial Nominee BECKY L. HAYASHIDA, for a term to expire 06-30-04. CPH

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HCR58 REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A SUNRISE REVIEW OF THE REGULATION OF CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION MANAGERS. CPH

    4/17/03 10:30 AM HCR163 SUPPORTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HAWAII HOMEOWNERSHIP CENTER. CPH

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 10:45 AM SB740 HD2 RELATING TO HEALTH. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:45 AM SB1519 SD1 HD2 RELATING TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 10:45 AM SB1675 HD3 RELATING TO HEALTH. CONFERENCE

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 11:30 AM SCR63 SD1 REQUESTING A STUDY ON RENOVATION AND RECONSTRUCTION OPTIONS AND THE FORMULATION OF A MASTER PLAN FOR ALOHA STADIUM. TAC/HED

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 12:00 PM GM290 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Board of Trustees of the Deferred Compensation Plan, Gubernatorial Nominee RYAN S. USHIJIMA, for a term to expire 06-30-07. LBR

    4/17/03 12:00 PM HCR43 REQUESTING THE EXPLORATION OF OPTIONS FOR REDESIGNING THE BENEFIT LEVELS OF “A” STATUS PLANS DEFINED UNDER HAWAII’S PREPAID HEALTH CARE ACT. LBR

    4/17/03 12:00 PM HCR92 REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH HAWAII’S HEALTH PLANS, TO EXPLORE OPTIONS FOR PROVIDING MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLANS TO HAWAII’S BUSINESSES UNDER HAWAII’S PREPAID HEALTH CARE ACT. LBR

    4/17/03 12:00 PM HCR94 HD1 REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT TO SUBMIT REPORTS ON EXEMPT EMPLOYEES AS REQUIRED BY ACT 253, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 2000. LBR

    4/17/03 12:00 PM HCR95 REQUESTING THE EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF A DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PLAN BENEFIT FOR FIRE FIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS. LBR

    4/17/03 12:00 PM HCR97 HD1 REQUESTING THE EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF A HYBRID RETIREMENT PLAN. LBR

    4/17/03 12:00 PM HCR109 REQUESTING THE EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO REVIEW ITS INVESTMENT PRACTICES, DETERMINE WHETHER ANY INVESTMENTS ARE BEING MADE WITH COMPANIES BASED IN COUNTRIES THAT SUPPORT TERRORISM, AND RETHINK ITS INVESTMENT POLICIES REGARDING THESE COMPANIES. LBR

    4/17/03 12:00 PM SR5 REQUESTING A STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF BIG BOX RETAILERS ON LOCAL SMALL AND MEDIUM RETAIL BUSINESSES. LBR

    4/17/03 12:00 PM HCR182 HD1 REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND HEALTH TO CONDUCT A STUDY RELATING TO THE OCCUPATIONAL AND HEALTH RISKS OF COUNTY REFUSE COLLECTION WORKERS. LBR/TMG

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 1:00 PM HCR172 HD1 REQUESTING THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE TO FORM AN AD HOC ADVISORY GROUP TO INVESTIGATE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STANDARD OFFER CONTRACTS AND STANDARDIZED INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENTS TO REDUCE THE APPROVAL PROCESS TIME FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS; AND FACILITATE THE PURCHASE OF ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCERS IN HAWAII. ENE

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 1:15 PM HCR90 REQUESTING THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION TO RE-EXAMINE THE CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATING HUBZONES UNDER THE HUBZONE EMPOWERMENT CONTRACTING PROGRAM AS IT APPLIES TO THE STATE OF HAWAII. ECD

    4/17/03 1:15 PM HCR128 HD1 REQUESTING TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND CALL CENTERS TO INITIATE CUSTOMER RIGHT TO KNOW PROCEDURES REGARDING ALL INBOUND AND OUTBOUND COMMUNICATIONS. ECD

    4/17/03 1:15 PM HCR135 REQUESTING DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP AN EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN TO ASSIST AND EMPOWER THE WAI’ANAE COMMUNITY AND OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STATE TO FOSTER GREATER SELF-SUFFICIENCY ECD

    4/17/03 1:15 PM HCR55 HD1 REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM BUSINESS ACTION CENTER TO COORDINATE AND FACILITATE THE PROJECT REVIEW AND PERMITTING PROCESS OF A PLASMA-ARC TORCH FACILITY IN THE STATE. ECD/HTH

    4/17/03 1:15 PM HCR81 HD1 REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE RECREATION RESIDENCE TRACTS WITHIN THE KOKE’E AND WAIMEA CANYON STATE PARKS. ECD/SAT

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 1:30 PM SB830 SD1 HD3 RELATING TO CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD CHECKS. CONFERENCE

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 1:45 PM HCR78 STRONGLY SUPPORTING THE CONVENING OF THE 2003 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL’S PERMANENT FORUM ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES TO BE HELD IN HAWAII. ECD/TSM

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 2:00 PM HB155 HD2 SD2 MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR PINEAPPLE RESEARCH. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM HB293 HD1 SD2 RELATING TO THE FARMERS’ MARKET. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM HB317 HD2 SD2 RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM HB320 HD2 SD1 RELATING TO RISK MANAGEMENT. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM HB418 HD1 SD2 MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM HB735 HD1 SD2 MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM HB914 HD2 SD1 RELATING TO ADULT RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM HB1294 SD1 RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM HB1405 HD1 SD2 RELATING TO BIOFUEL. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM HB1430 HD2 SD2 RELATING TO COMMUNITY ORAL HEALTH. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM SB16 SD2 HD2 RELATING TO EDUCATION. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM SB17 SD1 HD1 RELATING TO EDUCATION. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM SB58 SD1 HD2 RELATING TO SCHOOL REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM SB209 SD3 HD1 RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM SB255 SD2 HD1 RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM SB337 SD1 HD1 RELATING TO THE MANAGEMENT OF SCHOOL FACILITIES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM SB402 SD2 HD2 RELATING TO MEDICAL EDUCATION. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM SB576 HD2 RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM SB1034 SD1 HD2 RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LANDS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM SB1237 SD1 HD2 RELATING TO EDUCATION. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM SB1239 SD1 HD2 RELATING TO ENERGY. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM SB1381 SD1 HD2 RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM SB1432 SD2 HD2 RELATING TO DIVERSIFIED AGRICULTURE. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM SB1496 HD1 RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM SB1700 SD1 HD2 RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:00 PM SCR18 REAFFIRMING THE STATE OF HAWAII’S COMMITMENT TO CIVIL LIBERTIES AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS. JUD

    4/17/03 2:00 PM SCR23 SD1 URGING THE GOVERNOR TO ALLOCATE ADEQUATE FUNDING TO THE HAWAII STATE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN TO ENABLE IT TO CARRY OUT ITS MISSION AND DUTIES AS MANDATED BY LAW.(AMENDED TITLE) JUD

    4/17/03 2:00 PM None Informational Briefing TSM

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 2:15 PM HB176 HD1 SD2 RELATING TO THE WEED AND SEED PROGRAM. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:15 PM HB298 HD2 SD2 RELATING TO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. CONFERENCE

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 2:30 PM SB359 SD2 HD2 RELATING TO FILM INDUSTRY. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:30 PM SB837 SD1 HD2 RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:30 PM SB1172 SD2 HD2 RELATING TO AIRLINES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:30 PM SB1619 SD2 HD2 RELATING TO TAXATION. CONFERENCE

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 2:45 PM HB32 HD2 SD2 RELATING TO EDUCATION. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:45 PM HB248 HD1 SD1 RELATING TO SMOKING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:45 PM HB281 HD1 SD2 RELATING TO STATE EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:45 PM HB292 HD2 SD2 RELATING TO THE SCHOOL PRIORITY FUND. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:45 PM HB314 HD1 SD2 MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR SCHOOL SECURITY GUARDS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:45 PM HB638 HD1 SD2 RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:45 PM HB1176 HD1 SD1 RELATING TO EDUCATION. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:45 PM HB1362 SD1 RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS FOR ST. PATRICK SCHOOL. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:45 PM HB1506 HD1 SD1 MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR ISPED CLERK TYPISTS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 2:45 PM GM292 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Gubernatorial Nominee DONNA P. BISHAW, for a term to expire 06-30-06. HTH

    4/17/03 2:45 PM GM293 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Gubernatorial Nominee ELVIRA LEE, for a term to expire 06-30-06. HTH

    4/17/03 2:45 PM GM294 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Disability and Communication Access Board, Gubernatorial Nominee ANTHONY S. AKAMINE, for a term to expire 06-30-07. HTH

    4/17/03 2:45 PM GM295 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Disability and Communication Access Board, Gubernatorial Nominee RONALD AWA, for a term to expire 06-30-07. HTH

    4/17/03 2:45 PM GM296 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Disability and Communication Access Board, Gubernatorial Nominee RICHARD R. CHAVES, for a term to expire 06-30-07. HTH

    4/17/03 2:45 PM GM297 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Disability and Communication Access Board, Gubernatorial Nominee SHARON FOUNTAIN, for a term to expire 06-30-06. HTH

    4/17/03 2:45 PM GM298 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Disability and Communication Access Board, Gubernatorial Nominee FRANCINE M. KENYON, for a term to expire 06-30-07. HTH

    4/17/03 2:45 PM GM299 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Disability and Communication Access Board, Gubernatorial Nominee LUCY MILLER, PH.D., for a term to expire 06-30-07. HTH

    4/17/03 2:45 PM GM300 Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Disability and Communication Access Board, Gubernatorial Nominee PATRICIA NIELSEN, for a term to expire 06-30-07. HTH

    4/17/03 2:45 PM HCR62 HD1 REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF THE COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION ON THE STATE OF HAWAII, AND REQUESTING HAWAII’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION IN CONGRESS CALLING FOR FURTHER REVIEW OF THE MIGRATION ISSUE AND FOR INCREASED AID FOR THE EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF THE COMPACT, AND ANY NEWLY RENEGOTIATED COMPACT, ON THE STATE OF HAWAII. HTH

    4/17/03 2:45 PM HCR82 HD1 URGING HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION AND ST. FRANCIS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TO CONTINUE THEIR PARTNERSHIP IN SERVING THE NEEDS OF DIALYSIS PATIENTS IN HAWAII. HTH

    4/17/03 2:45 PM HCR179 HD1 REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HAWAII’S U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICE TO FURTHER IMPLEMENT THEIR EPIDEMIC PREVENTION PROGRAM TO PREVENT THE POTENTIAL ENTRY OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE VECTORS THAT MAY CAUSE AN EPIDEMIC IN HAWAII HTH

    4/17/03 2:45 PM HCR203 REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE HAWAII CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, TO RESTORE THE DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE OF HOSPITAL PAYMENTS FOR COMPENSATION FOR CARE PROVIDED TO THE UNINSURED. HTH

    4/17/03 2:45 PM HCR165 HD1 REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF THE KALAUPAPA SETTLEMENT OPERATIONS AND EXPENDITURES. HTH/WAM

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 3:00 PM HB289 HD2 SD2 RELATING TO EDUCATION. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 3:00 PM HB714 HD1 SD2 RELATING TO EDUCATION. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 3:00 PM HB1175 HD2 SD1 RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 3:00 PM SB506 HD2 RELATING TO GEOTHERMAL ROYALTIES. CONFERENCE

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 3:45 PM HB122 SD2 RELATING TO PRESUMPTIVE MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY FOR PREGNANT WOMEN. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 3:45 PM HB127 HD1 SD1 RELATING TO GENERAL ASSISTANCE. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 3:45 PM HB1342 HD1 SD1 MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR YOUTH SERVICES. CONFERENCE

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 4:00 PM HB1155 HD1 SD1 RELATING TO UNCLAIMED PROPERTY. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:00 PM SB420 SD1 HD1 RELATING TO STATE FINANCES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:00 PM SB1152 SD1 HD1 RELATING TO THE REPRESENTATION OF THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS ON BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND ADVISORY BODIES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:00 PM SB1267 HD2 RELATING TO TOBACCO. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:00 PM SB1305 SD1 HD1 RELATING TO STATE FUNDS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:00 PM SB1311 SD1 HD1 RELATING TO SPECIAL FUNDS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:00 PM SB1324 SD1 HD2 RELATING TO CONCILIATION PANELS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:00 PM SB1395 SD1 HD1 RELATING TO THE AMENDMENT OR REPEAL OF OBSOLETE TAX LAWS. CONFERENCE

    ”Date Time Bill Number Measure Title Committee”

    4/17/03 4:30 PM HB297 HD2 SD2 RELATING TO DRUGS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:30 PM HB562 SD1 RELATING TO SEXUAL ASSAULT. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:30 PM HB564 SD1 RELATING TO PROMOTION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:30 PM HB980 HD1 SD1 RELATING TO CIVIL SETTLEMENTS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:30 PM HB1076 HD1 SD1 RELATING TO APPELLATE JURISDICTION. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:30 PM HB1111 HD2 SD2 MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE, ITS OFFICERS, OR ITS EMPLOYEES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:30 PM HB1255 SD2 MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE OFFICE OF ELECTIONS. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:30 PM SB78 SD2 HD1 RELATING TO ELDER ABUSE. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:30 PM SB459 SD1 HD1 RELATING TO CAMPAIGN SPENDING. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:30 PM SB611 SD1 HD2 RELATING TO COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:30 PM SB635 SD2 HD2 RELATING TO TRAFFIC FINES. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:30 PM SB945 SD1 HD1 RELATING TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:30 PM SB946 HD2 RELATING TO CAREGIVER CONSENT. CONFERENCE

    4/17/03 4:30 PM SB1352 SD1 HD2 RELATING TO HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES. CONFERENCE

    ”’To reach legislators, see:”’ “Representatives at a Glance” and “Senators at a Glance”

    Political Tittle-tattle: News and Entertainment from Hawaii's Political Arena

    Hawaii Reporter
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    “Malia Lt blue top Image”

    ”Public Rally Set for Thursday, April 17, to Protest Unprecedented $460 Million Tax Hike on State Taxpayers”

    No New Taxes! No New Taxes! will be the war cry by small business owners and other concerned citizens at the “No New Taxes” rally on Thursday, April 17 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Hawaii State Capitol.

    Outraged by the plan by Senate Democrats to raise state taxes an unprecedented $460 million a year, Rick Hamada, morning talk show host on KHVH, is coordinating the rally and is urging small business owners and concerned citizens to join the protest rally scheduled during Hamada’s morning broadcast.

    Democrats, with a few exceptions in the Senate, voted to raise Hawaii’s taxes by $460 million through three proposals:

    *A 12.5 percent increase in the general excise tax ($180 million to $200 million);

    *A 7-year plan that imposes a monthly tax on anyone with business interests, land ownership or residency in Hawaii to fund a socialist long-term care government fund ($100 million +);

    *And to give the counties the right to tax anyone purchasing goods on Oahu an additional 1 percent sales tax in addition to the 4.5 percent general excise tax they increased ($120 million to $180 million).

    The majority of Democrats in the House are voting for the long-term care tax increase, and voted overwhelmingly to support the new county sales tax proposal, though today announced they are not planning to support the new sales tax in conference committee negotiations with the Senate.

    Those who are savvy to the legislative process warn anything can happen, however before session is over May 1 at midnight, and any of the proposals still alive may pass, even if one side says it is not supporting it.

    The governor says she is not planning to sign into law legislation that will increase taxes, with the exception of allowing counties to impose the new sales tax because she believes counties should have more autonomy. However Democrat lawmakers are already counting the number of votes they have so they can override her vetoes of the long-term care and other tax increases proposed.

    Hamada coordinated a similar all out “No New Taxes” protest in 1998 over then Gov. Benjamin Cayetano’s proposal to raise the state’s general excise taxes.

    Hundreds of people turned out to what was deemed the “Hawaii Tea Party,” and Hamada and others who attended the rally were credited with sending an effective message to lawmakers that ultimately helped kill the tax increase proposal.

    HawaiiReporter.com staff and supporters will attend the rally, along with members of Small Business Hawaii, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and the Hawaii Realtors Association. Those attending are asked to bring protest signs and old No New Taxes shirts from the 1998 rally. Anyone wanting a new No New Tax shirt at a cost of $12 can call HawaiiReporter.com at 524-4500 before the event. No shirts will be sold on state property. There is a limited supply.

    ”Most Legislators Keep ‘No Tax Increase’ Pledge, Two Don’t and One Makes National ‘Hall of Shame”’

    To their credit, Democrat Sen. David Ige and Republican Sens. Fred Hemmings, Bob Hogue and Gordon Trimble, kept their Americans for Tax Reform “No New Tax” pledge, voting no to all of the major tax increase proposals by their Democrat colleagues.

    In the House, Republican Reps. Bud Stonebraker, Barbara Marumoto, Galen Fox, Lynn Finnegan, Bertha Leong, Guy Ontai, David Pendleton, Cynthia Thielen, Mark Moses, Colleen Meyer and Corinne Ching also kept their pledge to vote no on new and higher tax proposals.

    However, Sen. Cal Kawamoto, D-Waipahu, supported and voted for all of the major tax increase proposals, even proposing to raise gasoline taxes by 2 cents per gallon. For his blatant disregard of his pledge, Kawamoto made the national “Hall of Shame” on the Americans for Tax Reform Web site seen at https://www.atr.org

    Rep. Bertha Kawakami, D-Kauai, also broke her pledge and voted for all of the tax increases in the House of Representatives.

    ”National Tax Freedom Day Comes on April 19 in 2003, Earliest Since 1992”

    According to Tax Foundation calculations using the latest government data on income and taxes, Tax Freedom Day in 2003 will be celebrated on April 19th. That is the same date that Tax Freedom Day fell on during 2002, but 8 days earlier than in 2001, and 11 days earlier than in 2000.

    Two factors are combining to make the average American tax burden
    lighter in 2003, according to Tax Foundation Executive Director Scott
    Hodge, including federal tax reductions in 2001 and 2002 and a slower economy.

    The new report, Tax Foundation Special Report No. 122, “America Celebrates Tax Freedom Day,” was unveiled by Foundation economist Scott Moody, who traces the course of America’s tax burden since 1900, and explains why the overall tax burden has dipped sharply in the last three years, pushing Tax Freedom Day back into mid-April, after a string of later Tax Freedom Days.

    Tax legislation being debated right now will affect the course of future Tax Freedom Days, according to Hodge.

    “If the President’s retroactive tax proposal is passed,” comments
    Hodge, “Tax Freedom Day will end up being one day earlier in 2003.”

    ”Taxes and Other Expenses”

    The report also compares the number of days that Americans work to pay taxes with the price of other important categories of consumer spending.

    “Americans will work longer to pay for government in 2003 than they
    will for food, clothing, and shelter combined,” says Hodge.

    Only in the last decade have taxes exceeded spending on these basic necessities, and federal taxes alone cost Americans more (74 days) than any other major budget item.

    Tax burdens vary considerably from state to state, not only because of different state and local taxes, but because of divergent federal tax payments. Connecticut has the heaviest total tax burden and so celebrates Tax Freedom Day the latest — on May 9. Alaskans pay the least and are finished working to pay taxes on March 30. In Hawaii, tax freedom day comes on April 13, two days before the federal government tax filing deadline.

    ”Governor Names Supreme Court Nominee”

    Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday named Honolulu Attorney James E. Duffy Jr. to the Hawaii Supreme Court and sent his name for consideration to the Hawaii State Senate, the body of lawmakers that must confirm him.

    A long-time, old-boy Democrat insider, Duffy was heavily supported by top Democrats in the state, who also lobbied to get him appointed to the federal bench, but were unsuccessful. U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye was rumored to be pushing for Duffy, even offering a trade to Lingle to support Duffy in exchange for his support of her candidates still pending confirmation before the U.S. Senate. But Lingle told HawaiiReporter.com in yesterday’s press conference that neither Inouye nor his staff contacted her or anyone from the governor’s administration about the appointment.

    Lingle stressed she was happy with Duffy’s appointment, but admitted she only had six candidates to choose from for the Hawaii Supreme court vacancy, which came with the retirement of Justice Mario R. Ramil. A list of six was submitted to the governor by the Judicial Selection Commission — a commission that was appointed Democrats, including former Gov. Benjamin Cayetano and the House and Senate leaders in the Hawaii State Legislature.

    Though many people were surprised by her selection, it may have been a good strategic move for Lingle, who was earlier that day criticized heavily by the former head of the Democrat Party of Hawaii Walter Heen for not having quality judicial appointments (even though she had not made any).

    Background on Duffy, submitted to Lingle, says Duffy was a former president of the Hawaii Bar Association and senior partner at the law firm of Fujiyama, Duffy & Fujiyama. He has a broad background in both plaintiff and defense work, and has concentrated his practice on personal injury matters; professional liability, product liability and life insurance claims; commercial law, family court and criminal law litigation. He is also experienced in arbitration and mediation, including advising business management on ethical, due process and other matters.

    Lingle, who discussed a rift between the remaining four Supreme Court justices now serving on the bench, says Jim is a “skilled lawyer who is perceived by his colleagues as someone who can effectively bring people together.” Duffy says his mediation experience will help him work with the other justices, no matter the circumstances.

    Over the past five years, Duffy has served as lead attorney for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and its board of trustees in litigation against the state of Hawaii in the ceded land revenue case, and as arbitrator, mediator and special master. He is licensed to practice in all Hawaii state and federal courts; Wisconsin state and federal courts for the East District; Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; and U. S. Claims Court. Duffy is a graduate of Marquette University Law School and College of St. Thomas in Minnesota.

    ”Conflicts of Interest Abound in State Legislature, Good Government Campaign Reform and Ethics Bills Die With Few Exceptions”

    Sen. Les Ihara, D-Kaimuki, helped introduce a number of bills under a “good government bill package” that challenge the ethics and campaign practices of lawmakers in an effort to hold them accountable for their votes and actions.

    The vast majority of these bills are dead or altered so severely that they are unrecognizable and in fact, bad government bills.

    One ethics bill that was a key piece of legislation in the package is still a “clean” bill, not altered, but will not pass unless Eric Hamakawa in the House judiciary grants it a hearing and passes it as is to the governor for her signature, something highly unlikely, but possible with enough public pressure, Ihara says.

    That bill is SB 1606, which addresses legislative ethics by defining conflicts of interest, setting up a legislative committee to council and police legislators who violate legislative ethics and in extreme cases, may recommend legislators not vote on a bill that financially or otherwise benefits them.

    The bill also would require financial disclosure for legislators of any client or job that accounts for more than 25 percent of their income. For example, many of the legislators are also attorneys and represent companies that come to lobby them on bills. That should be disclosed, Ihara says.

    A handful of legislators have blatantly introduced legislation to specifically help themselves or an organization they represent this year, in some cases without declaring a conflict, something Ihara and many others say is just plain wrong.

    For example, Reps. Marcus Oshiro, D-Wahiawa, and Cal Kawamoto, D-Waipahu, introduced legislation to exempt Wahiawa General Hospital from city zoning requirements that were holding up a major expansion project for the hospital, which included the construction of several new medical related businesses and facilities Oshiro was involved in. Both Oshiro and Kawamoto are on the board of the hospital.

    Another bill allowed the automatic extension for 35 years of state land leases in Kokee on Kauai for families already residing there. Normally the leases, authorized by the state every 35 years, would be awarded to the highest bidder. However, Rep. Bertha Kawakami, D-Kauai, whose family resides there, was a co-signer of the bill that denied the leases from going out for bid, and instead automatically renewed them for 35 more years. Many other Democrat insiders and supporters also hold leases in the area. Kawakami, a powerful figure in the House, never acknowledged her conflict when introducing or voting on the bill.

    Democrats in the House claim to have passed a bill reforming state campaign laws that now allow for rampant abuse by some candidates who do not have ethical campaign fundraising practices.

    The investigations by a variety of state, city and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as the state Campaign Spending Commission, of the campaign of Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris, have revealed an ingrained “pay to play” system that encourages those seeking government contracts from the city to make political contributions to Harris. Other Democrat politicians in Hawaii, such as former Gov. Benjamin Cayetano, former Lt. Gov Mazie Hirono, and former Mayor of Maui Kimo Apana, have come under fire for this same practice of not only accepting, but encouraging, political contributions from those getting government work.

    Bob Watada, executive director of the state Campaign Spending Commission, is frank about the House Democrats’ version of the campaign spending reform bill.

    “It is just a bad bill,” Watada says about Senate Bill 459, once a solid reform bill that was tampered with by committee chairs.

    Watada says the main problem with this legislation that Democrats are not only touting, but passing, is there are too many exemptions that allow even more loopholes to be created and more unethical and damaging practices to go on in secret.

    “The bill is supposed to prevent those … getting government work from giving contributions during a certain period — period,” Watada says. But he says it exempts those owning less than 25 percent of a corporation (most have ownership of 15 percent or less or dilute their shares with family members), and exempts those giving under $6,000 per election cycle. The bill also stops the reporting requirement for gifts and in-kind donations under $1,000, which could add up substantially, especially in the House races where less money is raised and spent.

    “In-kind donations, which they are now saying don’t need to be reported, could account for up to 50 percent of the total money raised, but the public will never know it because it will be swept under the rug,” Watada says.

    Watada also points out the new legislation, if passed, would allow vote buying to become legal. Candidates could solicit gifts from companies that already have given them the maximum donation. In turn, the candidates can give the gifts to constituents in an effort to win their support and essentially buy their vote. At least two people currently in office are under investigation for this practice, including Sen. Cal Kawamoto, D-Waipahu, who is in charge of the government affairs committee in the Senate, and oversees the ethics of his fellow senators.

    ”Spammers Take Advantage of War in Iraq”

    With the onset of war in Iraq, email from people marketing war-related merchandise has become the fastest growing new type of spam, according to SurfControl, an email filtering company.

    The company’s global research team reported in March that in less than a month, war-related spam rose from an insignificant number to nearly 10 percent of all spam. The company bases its report on all spam collected and monitored for SurfControl’s anti-spam database.

    Most of the war-related spam began to appear in mid-March, using patriotism and fear to sell everything from lapel pins to gas masks.

    Among the most frequent war-related spam email messages were: American Car Flags to Support our Troops; Celebrate American Courage: Take 4 History Books for $1 Each!; Defenders of Freedom U.S. Coin; Discover Platinum American Flag Card; Honor our Military with Exclusive Collectibles; Show Your Pride (T-shirts); Show your support with a U.S. Lapel Pin!; Support our Troops (T-shirts); Terrorist Threat, Please Read! (Water filtration system); Israeli Gas Masks in Stock for a Limited Time!

    The spam email selling gas masks, while not as frequent as many of the others, illustrates the rapid growth in war spam. Gas mask spam rose from zero in early February to 216 variations of gas mask spam by March.

    Company official Paris Trudeau added that not only is spam a huge problem, but also junk mail, which while it is not attempting to sell any products can still tie up corporate email accounts.

    ”Anti-War Activists Picket Fox News”

    In Hawaii, pro-American rallies are still being held every Saturday at Ala Moana Beach Park. Anti-war activists also continue to protest in scattered locations around the state.

    In Washington D.C., the rallies tend to be more strategically placed. Take the one that happened right in front of the offices of Fox News.

    Anti-war activists picketed the Fox News Channel offices to protest the network’s coverage of the war in Iraq, according to a report in the United Press International. Organized by Code Pink, Global Exchange, and Media Alliance, the first event drew about 75 protesters. In a letter to the bureau, Code Pink told Fox News it is not reporting the events in Iraq objectively.

    “We are writing to remind the Fox News Channel that according to your own promotions, you are supposed to be ‘fair and balanced,'” the letter says. “You seem to have forgotten this motto in your coverage of the war in Iraq. You also seem to have forgotten some of the basic precepts of journalism — such as the one that journalists are supposed to report the truth.”

    A Fox spokesman declined to comment.

    ”Former Hawaii Resident, Candidate for U.S. House, Featured in USA Today for POW Experiences”

    Orson Swindle, a former resident of Hawaii, candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, now a commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission, was featured recently in USA Today.

    In the article “FTC watchdog, ex-POW focuses on lifting spirits,” reporter Jayne O’Donnell unveils some of the horrible ordeals Swindle survived as a POW for six years during the Vietnam War, including 20 sleepless days of beatings while chained to a stool. He returned to America March 4, 1973.

    Today, at the FTC, Swindle and four other commissioners cast votes on consumer protection and antitrust matters ranging from mergers to Internet spam and eye-surgery scams, O’Donnell reports.

    “It’s also an odd spot for the man who ran Ross Perot’s populist presidential campaign, helped launch Jack Kemp’s free-market Empower America and nearly discontinued loans to Georgia farmers when he ran Georgia’s slice of the Farmers Home Administration under President Reagan,” she says.

    Swindle, she says, is a spirit booster for FTC’s staff in the nation’s capital, where fears of war-related terrorist attacks have many on edge.

    In an email to managers, Swindle wrote, “We are gonna be fine now and in the future.” He added: “The war in Iraq will be over soon. We can be proud of our forces. Our cause is just, and war is unfortunate, but necessary from time to time.”

    ”’To reach legislators, see:”’ “Representatives at a Glance” and “Senators at a Glance”

    ”’Send any tittle or tattle you might have to Malia Zimmerman at”’ mailto:Malia@HawaiiReporter.com ”’Send complaints elsewhere. Compliments and news tips accepted here.”’

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