PRINCETON, NJ -- While no state exhibited strong economic confidence in 2010, the people of Washington, D.C., Hawaii, Iowa, and Maryland had the highest economic confidence. At the other end of the spectrum, residents of West Virginia, Idaho, and Rhode Island were the least confident.

One day, the mother of a 12 year-old girl I mentored called me asking for help after they had become homeless....

None of the Democratic names being tossed around as a replacement for Akaka are pro-life. At the top of the list are pro-abortion Lieutenant Governor Schatz and pro-abortion Rep. Colleen Hanabusa. Regarding the open Hawaii Senate seat, former Democratic Rep. Ed Case, also pro-abortion, told Politico, “I have been interested and I remain interested.”

As the Cook Report's Linda Duffy noted in a National Journal piece, there is a potential cloud on the horizon for Hawaiian Democrats. She is Linda Lingle, the relatively popular former Republican governor of the Aloha State....

I worked closely with the Senator to gain support for the Akaka Bill and I still have hopes that this important legislation will come to fruition during the remainder of his term. -- Gov Linda Lingle

While some may be curious, there will be plenty of time to discuss my own personal plans in light of his announcement.

For those who've asked, I remain interested in serving Hawai‘i in the U. S. Senate.

An email sent in June 2008 with regard to teachers who were late in making the paybacks reads: "Brother Veli wants to have all the “salary returns."  And he says to withhold future salaries from those who have not made them."

More incriminating still is an email dated June 13, 2007...which recommends "increasing the number of teachers from Turkey ... to acquire more money."

The White House may be the most convenient punching bag, but it is not that simple.  The DoJ’s point man on the Akaka Bill, Deputy Associate US Attorney General Sam Hirsch, in not an Obama loyalist.  His ties are to Inouye.... 

Not a word about the Akaka Bill....

"Hirono and Hanabusa voted against this resolution that was supported by almost all Republicans, a majority of the Democratic caucus, President Obama, and both of Hawaii's Senators.  Only the far left wing of the Democratic Party opposed this measure.”

The Grassroot Institute's outstanding board of directors, led by Dick Rowland, the man who started GRIH and allowed me to serve all these years, already has begun an extensive search for my successor. I trust they will find someone capable of carrying on this vital work....

Kick-Off Rally on Sunday, March 6 @ State Capitol from 4:00PM - 5:30PM

Being Human Documentary to Air March 8-11 on KALO-TV

House Bill 1407 would require birth parents' names be written next to adoptive parent names on finalized official adoption birth certificates. This means women wanting anonymity will not be allowed to go through the regulated adoption process, but will be left with nothing to do but to abandon their babies on doorsteps or revert to abortion.

The Hawaii Meth Project announced today the launch of a $2.0 million campaign to support its statewide prevention program focused on reducing Meth use among Hawaii’s teens and young adults.

Abercrombie lashes out “Against global forces of carbon-based energy that are out there right now victimizing us….”

Slom: Legislators, Governor will turn to GE Tax in the waning days of this session….

... the House Finance Committee heard bills that would tell a business how much it can pay its executives, prohibit a deduction of business travel expenses, impose fees on repeat visitor accommodations, tax creative entrepreneurs who write music or movies, tax their death benefits when a key employee dies; and reverse the state’s long standing position of encouraging investment in high technology firms.

“This State run bank would be governed by persons without a banking background including Governor Abercrombie and the State Director of Labor. I cannot see how Governor Abercrombie, who would be designated as Chairman of the Bank, and three of his political appointees could operate this bank while also managing the entire State, ” noted Rep. Gene Ward, House Republican Leader.