Senate Majority Caucus

By Sen. Will Espero (`Ewa Beach, `Ewa by Gentry, Ocean Pointe, `Ewa Villages, West Loch, Honouliuli, Lower Waipahu).

The Pew Center on the States recently issued a report with sobering statistics for lawmakers: 1 in 99 Americans is behind bars. The figures were startling. Only 1 in 837 people over the age of 55 are in prison, but for people in their 20s, that number is 1 in every 53. The ethnic disparities are even more alarming. One in 9 black men ages 20 to 34 is behind bars, compared to 1 in 30 men overall. Only 1 in 106 white men ages 18 or older is in prison, but 1 in 15 black men in the same age group are. The female prison population is also growing and showing ethnic disparity. One in 100 black women ages 35 to 39 is an inmate, compared to one in 355 white women. Our Hawaii statistics are just as worrisome: 44% or nearly one-half of our prison inmates identify themselves as Native Hawaiian/part-Native Hawaiian. (more…)

By Sen. Will Espero (`Ewa Beach, `Ewa by Gentry, Ocean Pointe, `Ewa Villages, West Loch, Honouliuli, Lower Waipahu)

NEEDLES ON THE BEACH
`Ewa’s shorelines were dotted with unused blood-drawing needles last week, which presented a public health hazard. I was notified of the incident by a constituent, although the state Department of Health had known about it for about a week. Several buckets of needles were collected for over three days, and more continued to wash ashore for at least a week. Hau Bush Park, where many needles were found, is frequented by surfers and fisherman. Knowing of the needles would certainly minimize any public health risk the needles may have posed.

If buckets of needles are washing ashore on public beaches, the general public must be told. At the very least, the public would be cautious and attentive if they knew the possible risk involved, even avoiding the area until an all clear notification was given.

The media reported the situation after residents took action. The state Department of Health apparently does not have a policy to notify the media and public if needles or syringes wash ashore. I find both this and their decision to stay quiet a poor decision. I informed the director that a policy of immediate public notification needs to be adopted. I have faith the department will respond differently if this occurs in the future. (more…)

 
Jeff Mikulina, director of the Sierra Club Hawai`i chapter, asked House committee members to pass Senate Bill 644 because even with existing incentives for installing solar water heating, only 20 to 25 percent of new homes in Hawai`i install systems.

Senate Bill 644, which requires the installation of solar hot water heaters in all new single family residential construction, has returned to life and is moving in the House of Representatives. This bill had passed out of the Senate last year but was stalled in the House by a solid wall of opposition by the Hawai`i Solar Industry Association, the Building Industry Association, Hawaiian Electric Co. and The Gas Company.

This year, with oil prices now hovering over $100 per barrel, interest has been renewed in the measure that is projected to dramatically increase Hawai`i’s energy independence, generate increased economic activity and lower the cost of home ownership.

Industry experts agree that the most efficient and cost-effective time to install a solar hot water heaters is during a home’s initial design and construction. There is also general agreement that new developers installing 1,000 solar hot water heaters in 1,000 new homes can do so far more efficiently and at a lower price than later during an individual homeowner’s retrofit. (more…)

By Sen. Donna Mercado Kim
Originally written for The Honolulu Advertiser, appearing Feb. 19, 2008

Ongoing problems in this administration have raised serious questions about the adequacy of our state procurement laws and how those laws are being applied. In a February, 2006 Honolulu Advertiser article, “Lingle aides bypass procurement process,” we learned how the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) attempted to circumvent procurement laws by using a non-profit organization to handle large donations solicited by DBEDT to fund the administration’s trade missions to China and Korea.

Then again in September, 2007, the Advertiser reported “Hawai‘i firm got $7.3 million in non-bid work,” unearthing a scheme where employees of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands awarded millions of dollars in non-bid contracts to a company with which the DHHL employees had a previous relationship; those actions potentially violated a new procurement statute enacted by Gov. Lingle to combat cronyism and ensure a fair and impartial procurement process.

Now new examples have surfaced surrounding DBEDT and its granting of a contract to manage the state’s Hydrogen Investment Capital Fund. We can accept no further delay in providing Hawai‘i’s taxpayers with a close look at our procurement laws to determine if they are providing the selectivity and fairness they are meant to assure. (more…)

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann testifies before three Senate committees on Senate Bill 3213.

Three Senate committees held a joint hearing today to determine whether Senate Bill 3213 will move forward. The bill says that if the city and county of Honolulu does not decide which technology to use for its fixed guideway mass transit system by June 30, the 0.5 percent tax surcharge it currently charges to fund the project will be suspended. The bill also requires the county to award contracts for the technology by Dec. 31.

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann testified before the Transportation and International Affairs (TIA), Economic Development and Taxation (EDT) and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs (IGM) committees that while he does not think the legislation is necessary, he appreciates the concern the legislature has over the progress of the mass transit plans. Testimony, (more…)

Susan Chandler, a professor from UH-Mānoa’s Public Policy Center and employee in Saunders Hall, testifies in support of Senate Bill 2356 before the Education and Energy and Environment committees.

Saunders Hall is the model for sustainability initiatives on the University of Hawai`i-Mānoa campus. A seven-story concrete building that houses 12 academic departments, research units, classrooms and staff offices, Saunders Hall is also a major user of energy, consuming approximately 2.4 million kilowatt hours annually. At the current cost of approximately 16 cents per kilowatt hour, the annual energy cost of Saunders Hall is approximately $384,000.

To address the increasing cost, Saunders Hall recently conducted a preliminary energy efficiency audit. If Saunders Hall follows the audit’s recommendations, it is projected to reduce or offset its energy consumption by up to 39 percent.

Senate Bill 2356, introduced by Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland (D - Sand Island, Kalihi, Liliha, Nu`uanu, Pauoa, Pu`unui), proposes an appropriation of $1,024,000 for the University of Hawai`i to finance the audit’s recommendations. (more…)

By Mark Mararagan, office manager for Sen. Hooser.

Instead of a traditional prayer, I would like to tell you a story about my late grandfather, Gil Renti Cruz.

My grandfather came to Hawai`i from the Philippines, recruited as a sugar plantation worker. He ended up on Kaua`i and worked with the irrigation system for the Kekaha Sugar Company, riding his mule deep into Waimea Canyon to make sure the source of water for the sugar fields were flowing properly. My grandfather sacrificed most of his meager pay that he earned by sending it back to the Philippines so that his family could maintain the farm land that they owned. (more…)

The Garden Island newspaper published an editorial this morning supporting Senate Bill 3170, which establishes pesticide-free buffer zones around schools. The article cites five incidences over the past few years in which students at Waimea Canyon Middle School complained of illness that was allegedly due to pesticide spraying.

“It would benefit our children, teachers and parents to know that the school where they all converge is a safe environment,” the newspaper said.

The editorial concludes with a request to “Keep Bill 3170 alive during the 2008 session.”

To read the entire editorial, click here.

This morning at Waimea Canyon Middle School on Kaua`i’s west side, ambulances rushed 10 students to local hospitals with complaints of nausea and nasal and eye irritation thought to be the result of nearby pesticide use. The school closed shortly and students were treated and released.

This morning’s incident is not isolated. In response to similar past problems with alleged pesticide and herbicide impact on the health of students and staff, Sen. Gary Hooser introduced a bill last week in the State Senate that establishes three different pesticide-free buffer zones around schools. (more…)

The Hawaii State Senate will be convening again on November 19-20, 2007, to consider the nomination of Katherine G. Leonard to the Intermediate Court of Appeals. 

The Senate will open on Monday, November 19 to officially receive the Governor’s Message, refer it to the Judiciary and Labor Committee, and file the committee report.  Final action will be taken on the next day, Tuesday, November 20 at 9 a.m.

The Judiciary and Labor Committee has scheduled a hearing prior to special session on Friday, November 16, 2007, starting 

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In the spirit of Halloween, the House Majority Caucus blog has been featuring ghost stories from incidents that occurred in the State Capitol over the years.  You might be interested to learn that several happened in the Senate.

Stories courtesy of the House Majority Caucus.

The House Committees on Transportation and Finance have scheduled a hearing for Senate Bill 1 Senate Draft 1 on Monday, October 29, 2007, starting from 1:30 p.m. in the State Capitol Auditorium. 

The joint Senate Committees on Judiciary and Labor, Transportation and International Affairs, and Energy and Environment approved Senate Bill 1 Senate Draft 1. 

Judge Randal Lee was recommended for the Intermediate Court of Appeals by the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee.

Articles on Day 2 of the Superferry Special Session are posted.

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GOVERNOR’S STATEMENT REGARDING THE TIMING OF SUPREME COURT’S SUPERFERRY DECISION REFUTED

In the Honolulu Advertiser’s Oct. 13 article, “3-way Superferry remedy urged,” and in other media reports, Governor Linda Lingle is quoted as saying, “The Supreme Court, for whatever their reason was, decided to wait over a year-and-a-half to reach a decision and to do it two days before this service was set to begin.” The implication that the Hawai`i Supreme Court deliberately timed its decision to occur “two days before” the Superferry was scheduled to start is wrong and does a disservice to the people of Hawai`i by undermining their trust in the justice system. (more…)

Hawaii Legislature Reconvenes Today 

By Honolulu Advertiser Government Writer Derrick DePledge 

State House and Senate leaders said yesterday they believe that majorities in both chambers favor helping Hawaii Superferry resume service while the state conducts an environmental review, but are split on whether the current draft bill could be substantially amended to place more operating conditions on the ferry.  Continue Reading

Honolulu Advertiser, Wednesday, October 24, 2007. 

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