Hawaii 24/7

MEDIA RELEASE The Hawaii State Senate Minority has released its 2012 Legislative Priority Package. Mission: It is the Mission of the Senate Minority To Improve Hawaii’s Business and Economic Climate, Guarantee Government Transparency and Fiscal Integrity, Extend Broader Sustainability With Maximum Personal Choice, and Enhance Every Resident’s Standard of Living. I. Creation of Private Sector […]

Read the full story

MEDIA RELEASE The state Senate has adopted a social media use policy. The Policy provides guidance to users, both internally and in the public. Currently, the use of social media in the public sector is a new and emerging phenomenon across the country. The Hawaii State Senate is one of the few state senate bodies […]

Read the full story

Yesterday, the Senate unanimously passed the Civilian Service Recognition Act of 2011 (H.R. 2061), which honors federal civilian employees who make the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their nation. The legislation authorizes federal agencies to give an American flag to families of federal civilian employees killed on the job as a result of a […]

Read the full story

MEDIA RELEASE Former Gov. Linda Lingle, Hawaii’s sixth elected governor, has announced her candidacy for the United States Senate in the 2012 election. The open seat was created when Sen. Daniel Akaka stated he would not seek a fifth term. “I always enjoyed working with Senator Akaka during my eight years as Governor,” Lingle said. […]

Read the full story

Governor Abercrombie has enacted 221 bills so far. The deadline for Governor Abercrombie to sign or veto bills passed in the last legislative session is tomorrow, July 12, 2011. New law puts Board of Education oversight on bullying, cyberbullying, or harassment problems in schools.

Read the full story

MEDIA RELEASE The State Senate has confirmed three of the governor’s nominees: Sunshine Topping as Director of the Department of Human Resources Development; Loretta J. Fuddy as Director of the Department of Health; and Richard C. Lim for Director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Sunshine Topping holds a diverse range of […]

Read the full story

MEDIA RELEASE The Hawaii State Senate passed out more than 325 bills in preparation for the March 15 First Crossover, the initial major deadline of the 2011 legislative session. All of the bills will now go over to the State House of Representatives which will conduct its own review and determination. During a long session, […]

Read the full story

For the coming year, we project yet another budget shortfall that will once again force us to make painful budget cuts. The unavoidable truth is we now have a county government that we cannot afford. We will continue to reduce the size and cost of government, and to refocus our limited resources on core, critical […]

Read the full story

MEDIA RELEASE | hawaiihouseblog.blogspot.com The Hawaii House of Representatives joined with the State Senate in overriding 11 of Gov. Linda Lingle’s 14 vetoes. The governor vetoed several revenue generating bills, among others, that are part of a financial plan to balance the state budget. “The Great Recession made our jobs very difficult,” said Speaker of […]

Read the full story

MEDIA RELEASE The Senate has announced several committees will be participating in a pilot project using Twitter to provide real-time updates on the progress of committee hearings. The Senate Committees on Higher Education (HRE), Consumer Protection (CPC), and Health (HTH) will be sending messages to let followers know that the hearing has convened, the bill […]

Read the full story

Gov. Linda Lingle testified Monday, Aug. 24 before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee on the Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye called the meeting. Here is Lingle’s testimony in full: Chairman Inouye and Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee: Welcome to our State Capitol. I want to […]

Read the full story

MEDIA RELEASE The state Senate and House of Representatives have agreed to extend the current legislative session by two days, permitting overrides of Gov. Linda Lingle’s vetoes of fiscal bills before the start of the fiscal year July 1, 2009. The session was scheduled to adjourn Thursday, May 7. The extension would eliminate a planned […]

Read the full story

Special to Hawaii247.com by Richard Rapoza/www.hawaiisenatemajority.com The Senate Ways and Means Committee has released its version of the state budget, balancing the budget despite recent decreases in funding estimates from the state’s Council on Revenues. Ways and Means Chairwoman Sen. Donna Mercado Kim said, “The House had the unenviable task of having to craft the […]

Read the full story

The Senate introduced 1,690 bills at the beginning of session and that figured now is down to 402 bills. The Senate Majority Caucus reported that “during a lengthier floor session than is customary,” a total of 338 bills that had yet to pass Third Reading were voted on Wednesday. “There were a few bills that fell away […]

Read the full story