The state Ethics Commission is likely to take more flak from high places for its advisory ruling that led Sesnita Moepono, one of three members of the Hawaii Labor Relations Board, to withdraw from the prohibited practices case involving the Hawaii State Teachers Association contract. The ethics determination was pretty much a no-brainer; Moepono’s husband [...]
Archive for the ‘Volcanic Ash’ category
New twists in teachers contract dispute
August 18, 2011Governor must answer, ‘Where’s the beef?’
August 17, 2011In his speech today updating constituents on the status of his “New Day” program, Gov. Neil Abercrombie once again did an excellent job of describing the major challenges that Hawai‘i faces. But he still hasn’t gotten to the hardest part — prescribing specific remedies that a critical mass of Hawai‘i residents will support despite the [...]
HSTA flounders in labor battle
August 17, 2011The Hawaii State Teachers Association is making self-defeating moves in its legal fight to overturn a state-imposed contract that hits teachers with a 5-percent pay cut and a greater share of medical premiums. The HSTA’s complaint to the state Ethics Commission that Gov. Neil Abercrombie and the Department of Education engaged in illegal ex parte [...]
Partying and writing don’t mix
August 16, 2011I attended a family birthday celebration at Dave & Buster’s last night and got through it by consuming several Black and Tans, so instead of trying to write, I’m going to leave you a video shot Saturday of Ilisa Peralta’s guitar students performing Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me.” My granddaughters Sloane, 8, and Nakaylee, 7, are seated front and center in their first [...]
An issue of congressional residency
August 15, 2011I got a note from a supporter of U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa asking why her fellow Rep. Mazie Hirono hasn’t gotten as much scrutiny as Hanabusa over whether she moved into the district she represents. The main reason is that, unlike Hanabusa, Hirono never promised she’d move if elected. Last year’s election put Hawai‘i in [...]
Les Kondo strikes again
August 11, 2011Ethics Commission executive director Les Kondo will likely have an even bigger target on his back with state legislators after he shot down a posh dinner well-heeled special interests planned for Hawai‘i lawmakers attending the National Conference of State Legislators in San Antonio. According to the Hawaii Reporter, the event was cancelled after Kondo advised [...]
Bachmann debate turns crazy
August 10, 2011The latest tempest in the political teapot involves a Newsweek cover photo of GOP presidential contender Michele Bachmann that some supporters say is unflattering and makes her look crazy. Even liberal feminists from the National Organization for Women are denouncing as sexist the headline that proclaims the tea party favorite to be “The Queen of Rage.” [...]
New hope in teachers’ labor dispute, or just hype?
August 8, 2011It could be naive, but I’m going to take the offer of the Hawaii State Teachers Association to enter into mediation with the state in their continuing contract dispute as a sign of progress and not more posturing. The teachers union is currently pursuing legal action against the state after Gov. Neil Abercrombie and schools Superintendent [...]
It’s already hold-your-nose time in the Hawai‘i’s U.S. Senate race
August 5, 2011The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee issued a couple of bizarre statements this week in Hawai‘i’s much anticipated 2012 U.S. Senate race, which so far has U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono and former Rep. Ed Case competing on the Democratic side for a likely match against former Republican Gov. Linda Lingle. In one missive, DSCC executive director [...]
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