According to the Fed research, “states with greater economic freedom – defined as the protection of private property and private markets operating with minimal government interference – experienced greater rates of employment growth.”

The last public poll done for this race by a local newspaper was conducted January 8-10th by the Honolulu Star Bulletin.  Since that poll, Djou has increased his ballot share by 19 points, while Case has dropped 9 points and Hanabusa fell 3 points, clearly showing momentum is on the Djou campaign’s side.

According to retired Congressman Neil Abercrombie, long time advocate for gay marriage,  “moral authority” should be the exclusive realm of the gay minority and state legislature.  The general public is of little concern to him and their “religious” views make their opinions illegitimate anyway.

In a very rare visit to the press cabin of Air Force One yesterday, President Barack Obama told reporters that the White House will not be leading any immigration reform efforts in 2010. Obama said: "…I've been working Congress pretty hard. So I know, there may not be an appetite immediately to dive into another controversial issue." Obama went on to assert that energy taxes were a higher priority, and that the election in November would make tackling immigration tough.

Apparently, Majority Leader Harry Reid didn't heed the President's advice. Several hours later, Reid, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and their colleagues from the left introduced an immigration reform framework that on the surface is identical to the legislation America rejected in 2007. When you dig down, it may be worse.

With Charles Djou clearly positioned as the only Congressional candidate opposed to Gay Marriage and Gay Civil Unions, the CD1 Special Election will be voters' first opportunity to register their reaction to the Legislature's vote.  

I share valid concerns with the 2010 Akaka Bill, including its limited definition of whom qualifies to be recognized as a member of the Native Hawaiian community; its ill-defined relationship between the Native Hawaiian governing entity and local, state and federal government; and its immediate establishment of sovereignty prior to further negotiations that could address outstanding issues like public safety, healthcare and property rights.

To achieve the type of broad-based support that this landmark legislation deserves, the amendments contained within the 2010 Akaka Bill should be fully vetted and resolved in the community through open and inclusive public hearings.

As an attorney and former state judge, I recognize that opponents of the 2010 Akaka Bill have rightly pointed out that failure to properly address these issues beforehand will likely result in difficult negotiations and protracted litigation following passage.

While my preference is for Congressional leaders to work out these issues before passing the 2010 Akaka Bill, I will continue to support the bill with reservations and work immediately to address any outstanding issues if elected Governor.

Last year the legislature, overriding vetoes from Lingle, enacted higher taxes on income, property, and tobacco products. Hawaii pays the highest state income tax rate in the country and have the 5^th highest tax burden among states. To add insult to injury, Harry Reid and Pelosi have piled on with $670 billion in higher taxes in just the past year. If Hawaii Democrats can’t hold off of raising taxes in such an environment, they never will. While ATR is urging the legislature to sustain Lingle’s veto, the legislature’s track record leaves little room for optimism. Fortunately for Hawaii taxpayers, November is fast approaching. If there is any state house in the country that could use a makeover, it’s Hawaii’s.

"If the Legislature wanted to establish the equivalent of same-sex marriage, they should have put it on the ballot for the people to decide."

"Hawaii voters have spoken very clearly in support of traditional marriage.  I am very disappointed that Colleen Hanabusa and the Hawaii State Legislature have clearly and blatantly ignored the will of the people of Hawaii on this issue.  Unlike both Ed Case and Colleen Hanabusa, my two major opponents in this congressional campaign, I will not ignore Hawaii voters and look forward to their judgment in our upcoming special election."

Hawaii GOP Chair Jonah Kaauwai: "The decision to override this veto is a conscious and deliberate choice by Democrats in the legislature to increase the financial burden on Hawai’i’s families.

“As Republicans we believe in fiscal accountability and that government has enough of the people’s hard-earned money.  Democrats have proved that they cannot be trusted by the people of Hawai’i to make the right decisions.  Hawai’i needs principled leadership that will do what is right rather than do what is easy.”

House passes civil unions 31 to 20.  (5:10pm)

HB444 will now go to the Governor for either a signature or a veto.  Governor Lingle has not indicated her position on the bill although Lt Governor Duke Aiona is strongly opposed to HB444.  To override a veto, the House would need 34 votes.

ROLL CALL for HB2421 barrel tax:

4/27/2010	H	Vetoed on 04-25-10 (Gov. Msg. No. 283).
4/28/2010	S	Vetoed on 04-25-10 - Returned from the Governor without approval (Gov. Msg. No. 531).
4/29/2010	H	Veto overridden by 2/3's vote with 42 Ayes; 9 Noes Representative(s) Brower, Ching, Finnegan, Har, Marumoto, Nishimoto, Pine, Wakai, Ward; and 0 Excused none.
4/29/2010	S	Veto overridden - 2/3's vote: Ayes, 19; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Espero . Noes, 6 (Senator(s) Baker, Fukunaga, Green, Hemmings, Ige, Slom). Excused, 0 (none).

I told Leon he was being extremely rude and that I'm a senior citizen whose tax dollars pay his salary.  Leon was in a state of rage and acting outrageously!  I felt very much at risk physically so I left and literally ran back to Room 441 where I just came from and where I felt I could be safe.  Leon followed quickly on my heels and entered that office with me.  I was yelling for help and he was yelling the Sergeant-At-Arms was on his way.  The whole scene was positively bizarre!  When Kevin came in, I was shaking and in a very frightened state due to the actions of Ms. Cabanilla's aide.  Kevin asked him to please leave and he proceeded to speak with me and told me no one is going to make you leave the building.  We went outside and continued our discussion in the hall.  A female staffer from Room 441 brought me a bottle of water after asking me if I needed it.

By targeting the Hawaii assets of foreign citizens as subject to seizure to satisfy the Death Tax, the State’s land grab takes on whole new dimensions.  How many residents of Japan, Canada, or other countries—owning Hawaii property--are aware of the details of American Estate law?  Probably not very many.  But starting this week, if the Governor’s veto is overridden, their assets could be subject to seizure to satisfy a 55% death tax.  Properties or businesses worth more than $3.5 million would be taxed.

You are correct about the Abercrombie sign being on the Mehau fence.  You may know that Mufi was endorsed for the Governor’s race by the ILWU.   Larry Mehau is friends with Yoshito Takamine, Bobo Lapena, and Takashi Domingo.  The three have ties to ILWU and do not like Mufi.  They asked Larry to put the Abercrombie sign up on his fence.  He consented.

While Larry and his family have not openly endorsed my candidacy, they have allowed me to put my sign on that same fence and I believe that they are supporting my candidacy, not Abercrombie’s.

State law (Chapter 90, Hawaii Revised Statues) allows individuals and organizations to volunteer their time and talents to help the public.   Many dedicated DOE employees already volunteer their time to help out before and after school and with many school-related activities outside of their normal teaching assignments.  These individuals give generously of their time and talents and we are thankful that they do so. 

While federal labor laws place limits on some hourly public workers that limit their ability to volunteer for work they perform in their normal paid capacity, the Department of Education could easily identify these individuals and process appropriate compensation for the additional hours they give back to allow children to return to the classroom.

Decisions can be made at each school to return on certain furlough days.

The American people just don't believe that Washington has any idea about why the financial crisis happened or how to regulate our financial system. According to Rasmussen Reports, 64% of Americans are not confident that policymakers in Washington know what they’re doing when addressing the current economic problems on Wall Street.

"All of modern thought," he adds, "can be reduced to mechanical denunciations of the West, emphasizing the latter's hypocrisy, violence, and abomination."

He exaggerates, but not by much....

Details on public hearing:

• Thursday April 29th 2010 
• 6:30 PM  
• 8th floor of the Kalana O Maui Building  
• 200 South High Street, Wailuku, HI 96793

Maui TEA Party will rally out front protesting the proposed tax increase.

TAKE ACTION NOW!  CALL, E-MAIL and VISIT THE OFFICES OF THE HOUSE MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY YOUR REPRESENTATIVE. ASK OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.  Starting Monday, April 26, gather at the Capitol BY 11:30 AM to sit in on the House Sessions in the Gallery.