Capitol Watch: Dec. 20

By /

Welcome to Capitol Watch. There’s a new governor, new leadership at the Legislature and other government branches, and Civil Beat is reporting on all of it.

2:59 p.m. Abercrombie, Streaming Live

In its first attempt, the Abercrombie administration will try to live stream today’s press conference on the budget (beginning shortly). Here’s the link: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/neil-abercrombie.

The Lingle administration attempted to live stream many of its press conferences, too, but it was a mixed success: erratic audio and pictures, sometimes useless.

The governor’s spokeswoman, Donalyn Dela Cruz, says the live stream “is all about transparency” in government, “so bear with us” while they work out the kinks.

One other point: Dela Cruz said the administration makes no apologies for holding press conferences on weekends, as has happened several times since the new governor was sworn in.

“It’s a new day and we’re working to make things happen, like making sure that the public knows what’s going on,” she told Civil Beat. “We’ve been at this for two weeks, and we have not stopped working since the moment we took this office. We’re trying to do the best we can.”

Word!

1:31 p.m. Inouye Tweets His Disgust

Dan Inouye has released highlights of a U.S. Senate amendment to H.R. 3082, a Continuing Resolution that would allow continued government operations through March 4, 2011. Essentially, the CR would fund operations at a rate $1.16 billion over fiscal year 2010 levels.

As you may recall, Inouye’s nearly $1.3 trillion omnibus appropriations bill was shelved last week because of Republican opposition over earmarks — a tough blow for the veteran lawmaker. The CR is the stop-gap measure needed to keep government in business, at least temporarily.

Today, the good senator tweeted a link to an article he apparently approves of. The AP item, picked up by The Washington Post, suggests the GOP wants it both ways when it comes to pay cuts.

Excerpt: “Overall, congressional payroll expenses have climbed much faster than the civilian federal work force costs that lawmakers are now clamoring to freeze. Many of the most vocal federal critics have overseen growth that rivals or outstrips the executive branch’s…”

12:28 p.m. GLBT Caucus ‘Delighted’ About DADT Repeal

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii says it was “delighted” to have its monthly meeting interrupted on Saturday because of the repeal (by the U.S. Senate) of the military’s discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

“It was clear that everyone wanted to watch history unfold,” said Caucus Chairwoman Jo-Ann Adams. “So we just kept the TV on and the volume down while we went through our agenda. When announcement of the vote came, we turned up the volume and cheered.”

The Caucus later celebrated at a Starbucks, with former chairman Lance Bateman picking up the tab. President Obama will likely sign the historic legislation Wednesday.

Next up: Another Hawaii civil unions bill at the State Capitol come January.

11:14 a.m. President to Arrive by Xmas Eve?

Barring last-minute filibusters and other congressional meddling, Barack Obama is expected to wrap up business in Washington Wednesday and take Air Force One to Oahu.

As of today, however, his exact departure time was unclear. He’s said to be lobbying senators to back an arms treaty with Russia, something some GOP leaders oppose.

Folks in Kailua are preparing for the presidential visit, reports the Associated Press. It includes setting up Secret Service check points.

Michelle, Malia, Sasha and Bo arrived Saturday — just in time for the rain.

10:01 a.m. Takamine: Green Jobs to Increase 26%

Interim Labor Director Dwight Takamine released a report today saying jobs related to renewable energy and energy efficiency occupations are forecast to jump by 26 percent over the next two years. The report was funded by a $1.2 competitive grant awarded in December 2009 under the the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (aka the stimulus package).

According to Takamine’s Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, a “green job” meets at least one of five criteria: it generates clean, renewable, sustainable energy; it reduces pollution and waste, conserves natural resources and recycles; is energy efficient; educates, trains and supports a green workforce; and is a natural, environmentally friendly production.

There are currently 11,145 green jobs in Hawaii’s private sector, or 2.4 percent of total private employment — which is expected to rise to 2.9 percent by 2012. Oahu will see the most jobs created (1,885 green positions) while the Big Island will have the highest rate of growth (42 percent).

9:45 a.m. Health Offensive from the Feds

In updating progress made on implementing the federal Affordable Care Act, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius today highlighted how Hawaii has benefitted from the controversial legislation.

The act, according to her office, has brought in $22.1 million dollars in grants for public health in the state, insurance oversight and exchange planning; 14,683 Medicare beneficiaries have had prescription drug costs lowered; and 22 Hawaii projects were awarded nearly $4.8 million in tax credits and benefits to support biomedical research.

“Still, some want to eliminate these benefits and put insurance companies back in charge,” Sebelius warned, alluding to lawsuits challenging the federal act. “We won’t go back and we are committed to delivering the benefits of reform to the American people.”

For more state-specific information about the Affordable Care Act, click here.

New Budget for a New Day

Expect Neil Abercrombie to submit a state budget to the Legislature today, per law. It’s been priority No. 1 for Budget and Finance Director Kalbert Young.

Young’s experience should come in handy: former director of the Department of Finance for the County of Maui, he previously worked at the Kapalua Land Co., the state Legislature and at Kamehameha Schools.

Young was was credited by many, including outgoing-Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares, for maintaining the county’s high bond rating despite tough economic times.

Press conferences were called on Saturday to announce Health Director Neal Palafox and Sunday to announce Attorney General David Louie. Important picks, yes, but odd to make them over a weekend — especially on a flash-flood Sunday! Yet, the governor’s sign-off on the Honolulu rail EIS — a very big deal — was handled last Thursday after work hours and via press release.

Probably, the governor wanted to finalize the Cabinet before taking on his next biggest battle — the budget. And Christmas is just five days away!

Where’s Charles?

Hawaii’s congressional delegation has had a busy lame-duck session, and votes and views on big issues like tax cuts, immigration and gay rights by Dan Inouye, Dan Akaka and even Mazie Hirono have been in the news and on their respective websites.

Charles Djou? The latest press release on his website’s homepage is dated Oct. 5 — a White House ceremony honoring World War II vets from Hawaii.

The latest press release on his website’s media center, meanwhile, is dated Aug. 24 — a statement on Hawaii winning “Race to the Top” funding. His YouTube clips are similarly dated.

Djou’s office did send out a Dec. 14 statement regarding the Government Accountability Office’s decision to audit the federal funding of the Compact of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. (He welcomed it.) But it was the first press release (to my inbox, anyway) since August.

Of course, Mr. Djou, defeated for re-election, has only a week or so left in office. But his under-the-radar profile is in sharp contrast to the congressman’s behavior during the rest of 2010.

Kauai Newspaper Wants Answers on Pay Pilikia

The Garden Island has penned an editorial demanding a public explanation on several controversial government pay raises.

The concern is that Kauai County Charter and Salary Commission rules were not met when the Kauai County Council last year approved a 7 percent pay raise for the county clerk and other possible appointees.

“The county officials who enabled this improper pay raise should answer for their actions and the council members who continue to turn a blind eye need to face the facts,” the editors write.

A ‘Local’ LG in California

The Garden Island reports that Mona Pasquil made history as the first Asian-Pacific islander and first Filipina lieutenant governor in California’s history.

Pasquil held the job for only six months — from November 2009 to April 2010 — as Arnold Schwarzenegger fought to permanently seat Abel Maldonado (his appointment took awhile to get through the State Assembly). Former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom defeated Maldonado Nov. 2 and will become the new LG next month.

Pasquil’s grandmother emigrated to Hawaii to work in the sugar plantations before moving to Sacramento, where Pasquil, 49, was born. She also married on Kauai earlier this year, where Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. sang the “Hawaiian Wedding Song.”

Catch up on our previous coverage:

What it means to support Civil Beat.

Supporting Civil Beat means you’re investing in a newsroom that can devote months to investigate corruption. It means we can cover vulnerable, overlooked communities because those stories matter. And, it means we serve you. And only you.

Donate today and help sustain the kind of journalism Hawaiʻi cannot afford to lose.

Donate

About the Author