The 35th annual Smart Business Hawaii (SBH) Business and Investment conference will be held Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at Honolulu’s Ala Moana Hotel from 7am to 2pm.

The following are some of the laws (those most likely to impact the general public) slated to take effect on January 1, 2011. Click on the bills to get more information.

... blame the military and use this as a basis to prepare to scam a billion or two from Congress the next time Democrats take over....

Honolulu, Dec 19- Governor Neil Abercrombie today announced the appointment of David M. Louie as Attorney General.

Meet the Candidate Forum for the District #1 City Council Race scheduled for Tuesday, December 21st, 2010; 6-9pm; at Nanakuli High & Int School Cafeteria.  The forum is sponsored by the Nanakuli Neighborhood Board #36 and the Nanakuli High and Int. PTSA. 

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has announced the team leading the Department of Health: Dr. Neal Palafox, Director, Loretta Fuddy, MSW, First Deputy Director, and Gary Gill, Deputy Director for the Environment.

"I question whether one can start a museum in a residentially-zoned area without a variance. I am not certain Kahala residents want such a facility in their neighborhood," said Representative Marumoto.

Last night, the spirit of the Tea Party won another major victory when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D–NV) was forced to drop his $1.27 trillion, 1,924-page omnibus spending bill. The problem with Reid’s omnibus spending bill was not just its size—although our federal government does spend far too much of other people’s money—but the way it was drafted and forced on the American people.

Rep. Djou voted in favor of the Obama tax proposal that the President announced last week. Rep. Mazie Hirono was the only member of the Hawaii delegation who voted to oppose the President on this critical bill.

VIDEO: House Speaker Calvin Say suggests Lili`uokalani could be converted to a Charter School.

Honolulu, HI – Hawaii Right to Life is sponsoring the 38th annual March for Life Hawaii with co-sponsors Hawaii Family Forum and Hawaii Catholic Conference. The grassroots rally is open to the public and will be held Saturday, January 22 from 10:30am to 1:30pm at the Hawaii State Capitol grounds.

It isn’t quite the Akaka Bill sneak attack that many have warned of in recent days, but on page 809-810 of the 2011 Omnibus Appropriations Act, Senator Dan Inouye has slipped in a mandate to the US Department of the Interior....

Toxics managed, treated or released into the environment from facilities operating in Hawai’i decreased 9 percent in 2009 when compared to 2008, according to the latest data available from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Yesterday, the Senate voted 66–32 to begin debate on the New START agreement with Russia. Only a simple majority (51) was required, but vote counters can use yesterday’s roll call as a benchmark for final ratification, which will need 67 votes to pass.

Is the school closing guidelines being taken so seriously that we should punish rather than reward such things as Koko Head Elementary’s performance as a 2011 Hawaii Distinguished School and as a Hawaii representative in the 2011 National No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools program?

Hawaii joins the 32 other states who already have borrowed money from the federal government to pay unemployment benefits during the current economic downturn. DLIR anticipated the insolvency and proactively took the steps to request advances from U.S. Department of Labor last September. Currently, Hawaii pays out $25 million in regular unemployment benefits a month through the trust fund. 

Executive Director Janet Grace stated “It makes no difference if a candidate is running at a federal, state, or local level. What matters is the moral compass of those elected to serve. There are ethics and standards of living that apply to all public servants because they help guide society in doing what is just and right. I believe most voters would agree with us that the men and women appointed to serve us must be held accountable to advocate for all innocent human life.”

Defense, homeland security, and veterans can all be funded at current levels for one month through a continuing resolution, and then the next Congress could adjust our defense needs. Inouye is attempting to hold the troops hostage? And for what? Taxpayers for Common Sense reports that among the 6,600 earmarks in the bill is $6 million for parkland acquisition in Hawaii. No wonder Americans hate this Congress.

“I welcome the GAO’s decision to audit the federal funds that go to the COFA. I have been vocally calling for reforming this treaty throughout my campaign and time in Congress – this is a good first step."

Overall, states achieved the highest scores ever for health emergency preparedness with 14 states scoring nine or higher. Three states (Arkansas, North Dakota, and Washington State) scored 10 out of 10. Another 25 states and Washington, D.C. scored in the 7 to 8 range. No state scored lower than a five