Archive for the ‘Sen. Takamine’ Category

Senate passes bill to address unemployment insurance rate hikes

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

The Senate today passed HB 2169, which will help reduce increases in unemployment taxes for Hawaii businesses, while maintaining funding for unemployment benefits. Because the bill has already passed the House and was not amended by the Senate, it is expected to receive final House approval quickly, and that Governor Lingle will sign the bill into law next week. 

Senator Takamine“HB2169 will provide timely, significant tax relief for businesses while maintaining unemployment benefits for those who are underemployed or unemployed through no fault of their own.  Both the $241 million in tax relief over two years and ensuring the underemployed and unemployed have full unemployment benefits will support the state’s economic recovery,” said Senator Dwight Takamine, chair of the Labor Committee. “Ensuring adequacy of the Unemployment Trust Fund will buffer businesses against any reoccurrence of the current situation where businesses were hit with higher taxes precisely at the time that they can least afford it.” 

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Hilo legislators to host mid-session community meeting

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Senators Russell Kokubun and Dwight Takamine, and Representatives Jerry Chang, Clift Tsuji and Faye Hanohano will be hosting a mid-session community meeting in Hilo to provide residents an opportunity to share their concerns about legislation in progress and community issues. Senator Takamine says “this meeting is an opportunity for residents to engage in an open dialogue with their legislators and participate in the conversation about projects affecting people the Hilo area.”

WHEN: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
          7:00 p.m.
WHERE: University of Hawai‘i, Hilo
          UCB Room 127

The public is invited to attend and participate in the open forum to inform and educate their legislators on issues that are affecting their communities. The legislators will also be sharing updates on education, budget and projects on the Big Island.

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Hilo area legislators seeking public input for upcoming legislative session

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Senators Russell Kokubun and Dwight Takamine along with Representatives Jerry Chang and Clift Tsuji are hoping to get an earful from the community. The Hilo area legislators have scheduled a joint community meeting on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo’s UCB Room 127. The purpose of the meeting is to give the public a chance to express their concerns and priorities for the upcoming legislative session.

Senator Russell Kokubun

“This is a chance for the public to educate legislators on their major concerns,” said Kokubun, who serves as the Vice President of the Senate. “We all know that the state’s budget and economy are critical issues, but we also know that we need to maintain our focus on a variety of other issues that are important to the community, including agriculture, education and healthcare, among others.”

Chang, Chair of the House Higher Education Committee and a member of the Education Committee added, “Building our economy also implies ensuring that educational opportunities are available at every level,” Chang said. “In our community, that means everything from public elementary and high schools to UH Hilo and Hawai‘i Community College.”

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Special committee to consider approaches to teacher furloughs

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

Furlough Friday Rally at the CapitolParents against furlough Fridays Rally at the Hawai‘i State Capitol, October 23, 2009.

Senate President Colleen Hanabusa today announced that a Special Committee of the Hawai‘i State Senate will convene to consider the options available to address the question of teacher furloughs.

“I am proud that my colleagues are stepping up with a battery of ideas to solve the teacher furlough problem,” said Senator Hanabusa, “but every option raises questions. We need to look at not only whether money is available, but how we can ensure that any money we appropriate gets released by the governor and goes to education. We also need to answer some fundamental questions about whether any action we take will interfere with a collectively bargained agreement between the state, the DOE, and the teachers’ union. The right to collective bargaining is guaranteed in our state Constitution, so this is a significant concern.”

Hanabusa added that, “The worst thing we can do is build false hopes. We need to act responsibly. This is a complicated situation and a lot of different parties will have to come together to work out a solution. But this committee will get the ball rolling.”

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On proposed Hamakua biofuels leases

Monday, December 15th, 2008

Senator HeeMembers of the Hawaii State Senate Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs will conduct an informational briefing and public hearing in Hilo on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. at the University of Hawaii-Hilo, UCB Room 127.
      
The meeting will focus on Hawai‘i Revised Statutes section 171-95 (as amended in Act 102, Session Laws of Hawai‘i 2002) regarding an expedited process for alternative energy development and the subsequent action taken by the Board of Land and Natural Resources at their meeting held on Friday, November 14, 2008 in Honolulu. A probable outcome of the meeting may be proposing amendments to HRS sec. 171-95—which relates in part to the granting of leases to renewable energy producers without public auction—to allow other alternative energy entities to participate in a process prior to selection, to provide better public notification of pending applications, and to hold the decision-making meeting on the island where the project is proposed to occur.

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