GaryHooser's Blog

“Who is this guy Gary Hooser and why is he emailing me?”

Excellent question, and I’ll jump right to it 😉

Probably my biggest claim to fame (besides having 4 beautiful grandchildren) is that I formerly served as a Hawaiʻi State Senator/Majority Leader (2002-2010). For those who want to dig deep, a full resume

If you’re interested in the “back story” you might enjoy this 700 word missive about how Claudette dragged me off the streets of Waikīkī…and my subsequent 20 year journey from pedi-cab driver to small business owner, to Councilmember, to State Senator.

The historical figures who’ve greatly influenced my world view, range from revolutionary leaders such Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela, to writers such as Norman Vincent Peale (The Power of Positive Thinking).

The words and music of Bob Dylan are embedded in my psyche, and Israel Kamakawiwoʻole is always there to remind me about what a wonderful world we live in.

To stay healthy (mind, body, and spirit), I walk 6 miles a day (weather permitting).

My core values revolve around the premise that “We’re all in this together”.

I spend almost every day of my life thinking, writing, and working with others across all the islands – trying to help make our planet and community a better place.

Which is why I’m emailing you (and blogging the message also).

The United States of America is going to hell in a hand-basket.

The world seem perpetually on the edge of blowing up.

President Donald Trump, is clearly cognitively challenged and surrounded by supplicants and enablers, collectively drunk on their insatiable lust for power.

Here at home, hard-working local residents cannot afford the basics.

We have thousands of people living under bridges, on the streets, and in the bushes. I posted this 700 word piece in my blog a few months ago and the reader response was overwhelming “No Room At The Inn”

Our dependency on imported oil and food is a disaster waiting to happen.

Now, believe it or not, the “Military wants Hawaiʻi to be a hub for Pacific arms manufacturing” – I describe the plan and consequences here “Can’t make this stuff up. And it’s sickening”.

Meanwhile we have State legislators meeting in secret rooms, cutting secret deals, and going to jail for bribery. Fortunately we have 8 brave citizen plaintiffs taking the issue and State House of Representatives to court – but they need your GOFUNDME help.

Note: Several of you, my friends who read this blog…several of you have already given generously to support these 8 plaintiffs and help pay their legal expenses — but to meet the goal of having all their expenses paid in full prior to their upcoming court hearing on the 27th…they still need to raise about $5,000 more…Please help if you can before that key date, with a contribution of any amount…no matter how small.

Our world is in a tumultuous and dangerous place, and it will only get better when we, the people, roll up our sleeves, and do the work to make it so.

I know it sounds corny, but it’s the truth.

This is why I’m emailing/blogging you, and will continue reaching out to you.

My writing/missives/rants are normally limited to 700 words. I encourage folks to “think globally while acting locally” and always provide tangible and specific ways you can help make a difference.

I strive to educate AND I always include a “call to action” AND offer specific guidance on how to do so for those new to the world of policy and politics.

No one pays me to do this, and I am not running for election.

I work for no organization, I am selling no products or services.

This is a labor of love and my only objective is to make a positive difference.

I’m hoping you will join me. If for whatever reason you’re not interested, you’re welcome to unsubscribe here and I’ll not bother you further.

We are still all in this together – of this I am 100% certain.

Sincerely,
Gary Hooser

Today I’m including these three specific calls to action.

1) Nadia Alves is running for election to represent Chinatown, Iwilei, and Sand Island in the State House of Representatives, District 28 – I’ve known and worked with Nadia on many issues over the years and know without a doubt that all Hawaiʻi will be well served by her election. REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU LIVE – please help Nadia Alves via a donation if you can.

2) I know it’s last minute, but if you live in Honolulu – check out this joint fundraiser “Dim Sum” event with Nadia Alves, Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto, and others – TONIGHT 05/23 Saturday, 6:30pm at Native Books – Arts & Letters Nuuanu 1164 Nuuanu Ave. Honolulu – Looks to me like a fun event and great opportunity to connect with multiple candidates AND to network with likeminded friends and allies.

3) Read Secret Meetings In Secret Rooms Making Secrets Decisions and then support the 8 Citizen Plaintiffs who have taken the State House of Representatives to court demanding that they follow the State Constitution. Their GoFundMe goal is to raise $1,000 per day over the next 5 days. Please help – 10 people a day giving $100, or 20 giving $50 – there’s many ways to make the math work. Please give what you can before 05/27!

*I apologize in advance for not always getting my apostrophe’s and grammar and punctuation all just right – too often, like today…I’m just racing to get the message out 🙂

I’ll never forget my favorite uncle telling me shortly after my first successful election in a rather blunt kind of way, “Congratulations on your election, I hope you don’t turn out like all the rest.”

Wow. In one short sentence, he says what 80% of people are thinking.

All politicians are crooks.

From that moment on, I redoubled my commitment to make my family proud and prove my favorite uncle wrong.

And it’s not true of course. All politicians are not crooks.

The great majority of those serving in public office, in my experience, are good human beings just trying to do their job.

But yes, all politicians, including of course your’s truly, without a doubt are imperfect.

As evidenced by almost daily headlines, some take cash bribes stuffed into paper bags. Other’s load up their campaign coffers by soliciting contributions from special interests. Still others exercise their corruption by standing on the sidelines, doing nothing, and looking the other way.

When the doors are closed, nobody is watching, and lawmakers can work in secret to manipulate legislation and state taxpayer funding to help their friends – bad things are gonna happen.

Of that we can be sure.

This is where you, the average citizen on the street comes in.

To keep our democracy, our government and our politicians “on track” two things are essential – YOUR participation and SUNSHINE.

Which brings me back to the title and purpose of today’s column.

The Hawai’i Constitution says unequivocally that state legislative committees (where all the lawmaking occurs) must conduct their decision making in public.

Unfortunately the majority of legislative committees are making a mockery of this constitutional requirement and the vast majority of committee decisions are made behind closed doors.

To stop the corruption, we must stop the backroom meetings, and insist that lawmakers follow the constitution.

The decision as to whether or not a legislative committee will even hold a hearing on a bill is made in secret. The public has no clue as to how, why, or even when this decision is made.

For bills that do receive a public hearing, the ultimate decision by the committee to pass, defer, or amend a bill is also made in private, and then later announced in public.

As part of the decision-making process, the committee chair meets with and discusses the bills in private, with various committee members, staff, and influential “stakeholders”.

This process does not come even close to meeting the requirements of Article 3 Section 12, paragraph 3 of the Hawaii State Constitution which states, “Every meeting of a committee in either house or of a committee comprised of a member or members from both houses held for the purpose of making decision on matters referred to the committee shall be open to the public.”

So, what are we going to do about it?

Fortunately for us, 8 citizen plaintiffs decided they’re not going to take it anymore and filed a lawsuit against the House of Representatives in early 2025 – Acasio, Aiwohi, Alcubilla, Aynessazian, Cobeen, Cobeen, Pahia and Ikeuchi v House of Representatives.

The core argument before the court is based on the fact that at the start of the 2025 legislative session, the State House of Representatives convened the House Advisory Committee on Rules and Procedure which then conducted 100% of its deliberations and decision-making in total secrecy.

This official House committee held no public meetings whatsoever yet “made decisions on matters referred to their committee”.

Mark your calendar for May 27 at 9:00am and support these 8 citizen plaintiffs, as they seek a motion for summary judgment at the First Judicial Circuit, Tenth Division at Ka`ahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl Street, 4th Floor, Courtroom 17 – on Oahu.

I’m not a plaintiff, but I’ll be there and hoping we can fill the room in quiet respectful support of the 8 plaintiffs.

Their request is simple and straightforward.

The State House of Representatives must follow the State Constitution and STOP making committee decisions in secret meetings behind closed doors.

Important end note: Two or more people communicating with each other (in person, via phone, text, email, zoom) is a meeting. A meeting may be held “in-person” or “on-line” and may be conducted as a “serial meeting” where participants are not all in the same “room” together at the same time.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN HELPING THEM FUND THEIR LEGAL EXPENSES via GoFundMe – THE GOAL IS 100 PEOPLE GIVING $100 – 10 PEOPLE A DAY OVER THE NEXT 9 DAYS!

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE – SHOW THESE 8 CITIZEN PLAINTIFFS HOW MUCH YOU APPRECIATE THEM. AND GIVE WHATEVER YOU CAN TODAY!

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Because you took action, made the phone call, sent the email, showed up to testify, and kept pressing hard all the way through – SB2471 has been passed into law!

Now known as Act 011, it restricts certain political spending in Hawaiʻi by corporations and other “artificial persons”, helping move our state closer to a democracy where political power belongs to people, not corporate bank accounts and “Citizens United”.

To be clear, this is a very big deal, politically earthshaking, and making news across the country. See this Associated Press (AP) article “New Hawaii law targets corporate influence in politics after Citizens United ruling”.

Yes of course it will be taken to court by the Big Money guys. But smart lawyers from across the country believe SB2471/Act011 will withstand judicial challenge.

Read this excellent overview by Aria Juliet Castillo, the Reclaiming Democracy Program Director for HAPA – “Major Win! Governor Green Signs Historic Corporate Money Reform Into Law”.

This would not have happened without the active involvement of regular citizens like yourself, making those calls, sending the emails, and showing up to testify.

Aria Juliet Castillo and I will be digging deep into SB2471 now Act 011, on our video/podcast Policy + Politics this coming Monday May 18 at 5pm. We will be live on YouTube and Facebook discussing this legislative milestone – other “post session” topics – and of course “next steps”!

Take a moment now to pat yourself on the back, and high-five a friend and ally.

Take another moment to reach out and thank those legislators responsible for pushing SB2471 through the process, and the governor who signed it into law.

Now before we turn to the next action:
Go outside, smell the plumeria, listen to Brother Iz, and recharge.
Take some time for yourself.

Then, mark your calendar for May 27, 2026, at 9:00am and join the 8 citizen plaintiffs in Acasio V House of Representatives in Honolulu as they seek a motion for summary judgment at the First Judicial Circuit, Tenth Division at Ka`ahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl Street, 4th Floor, Courtroom 17 –

I’ll be there and hoping we can fill the room in quiet respectful support of the 8 plaintiffs – who are fighting this court battle on our behalf.

The core issue is simple and straightforward.

The State legislature should follow the State Constitution and STOP making committee decisions in secret meetings behind closed doors.

Article III of the Hawaii State Constitution explicitly states, “Every meeting of a committee in either house … held for the purpose of making decision on matters referred to the committee shall be open to the public.”

The argument before the court on May 27th is based on the fact that when convened during the start of the 2025 legislative session, the House Advisory Committee on Rules and Procedure conducted 100% of its deliberations and decision making in total secrecy. The committee did not hold any public meetings whatsoever.

For background, read this StarBulletin piece I’ve pasted in my blog (so there’s no paywall) and linked here: Acasio, Aiwohi, Alcubilla, Aynessazian, Cobeen, Cobeen, Pahia and Ikeuchi v. House of Representatives

Please show up if you can to support these 8 citizen champions.

Regardless of where you live, please also chip in and help with the legal expenses.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE – Go to the their GoFundMe site and give something – 100 people donating $100 apiece would bring them current with all outstanding expenses as they enter into this critical “down the home stretch” phase of the legal journey.

Whether it’s $100, or $50, or $20 – or whatever you can afford and feel good about giving – PLEASE help. The GoFundMe site makes it very easy.

Mahalo plenty for taking action on SB2471 AND for helping the 8 citizen plaintiffs.

Your help and involvement – matters.

Sincerely,

Gary Hooser

How did I meet Claudette, and how did we end up making Kauaʻi our home?

And how and why in the world did I get into politics?

Funny you should ask. 😉

It was 46 years ago, on May 17, when I fell in love with and married a beautiful young South African woman by the name of Claudette Comrie.
 
We had met just months before in front of the Moana Surfrider Hotel in Waikīkī.

She was literally just getting off the bus coming from the airport on her first-ever trip to Hawaiʻi.
 
My occupation at the time was driving a pedicab, peddling tourists around, and in general acting as a local tour guide. It was early evening and I was waiting in front of the hotel, soliciting rides from the arriving travelers when she disembarked from the bus.

While her first response to my pedicab ride solicitation was an emphatic “no”, later when by chance I ran into her again and asked her a second time, she said, “maybe later.”

As the reader of this missive has by now figured out “later” came soon enough, my lovely South African bride-to-be climbed onto my humble pedicab, I took her on a tour of Waikīkī, we had a whirlwind romance, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Neither of us of course knew what the future would hold.
 
We had known each other for less than 6 months when we were married in South Africa at Durban’s Old Fort Chapel. We spent several months (and all of our money) backpacking around Southern Europe and Israel.

We were broke, unemployed, and in love – without a clue as to what was coming next.

I called a former employer, who then offered me a job managing the Fernandez Fun Factory in the Waipouli Shopping Center on the east side of Kauaʻi.

We rented a unit at the Pono Kai where I walked back and forth to work until that first paycheck allowed me to buy an old Buick.

Kauaʻi was now our home. Our children and our grandchildren would be born here. Ultimately, our ashes will be scattered here as well.

We were broke, but with a lot of hope.

A year or so later I started with a partner, Reef Cleaning and Maintenance, then came Bali Ha’i Realty and Waiʻoli Properties, and eventually a small publishing business “Kauaʻi Business and Real Estate Magazine” and “Kauaʻi Magazine”.

I learned from the diverse experiences, and grew personally and professionally.

Claudette got a job working the front desk at Pono Kai and eventually with United Airlines in Līhuʻe.

I developed a love for writing and in the early 1990’s penned a missive entitled “I don’t want to be Donald Trump Anymore.”

I’m not making this stuff up. I was in the real estate business and Donald Trump was a real estate tycoon who had written “The Art Of The Deal”.

Claudette and I were able to purchase our first home (a “no money down” fixer-upper), we drove a nice car (Jeep Cherokee), and had two beautiful children (a boy and a girl).

I found myself thinking, I don’t need a bigger house or nicer car.

I was comfortable, happy, but still seeking greater challenges. I still had bills to pay on the 1st and the 15th like everyone else, but no longer yearned to chase the almighty dollar.

Don’t get me wrong, I was raised on Norman Vincent Peale and “The power of positive thinking.”

I believed then, as I believe now, that each of us has unlimited potential and we can reach whatever goal we set our sights on.

Claudette and I have traveled the world and experienced places and events many only read and dream about. My work in public service has been incredibly fulfilling and I know Claudette greatly enjoyed the career she chose with United Airlines (and has since retired from).

There’ve been very high peaks, deep valleys, and occasionally times of great stress, but the journey has been truly extraordinary.

We look now towards the coming day, the journey ahead, the accomplishments yet to be achieved, and the mysteries yet to be revealed.

Imua!

Note: Here’s another “Fun Fact” about my history “before politics”…Note…these snippets are intended to ultimately be “chapters” and so…undergo editing now and again…consequently…this is a work in progress and the “flow” does not always “flow” 😉

And here is a piece about “before” I met Claudette and how “It all started in Weedpatch”

If the health of our community is measured in terms of “faith and confidence in government” – we have a serious illness in need of immediate attention.

Only 271,345 people or 24% of eligible voters, actually voted in the 2024 Hawaiʻi primary election – the lowest turnout in the state’s 65-year existence. (Office of Elections, U.S. Census, Civil Beat)
 
It gets worse: 568,273 registered voters actually received ballots in the mail, but couldn’t be bothered to open the envelope, place a mark next to their preferred candidates, and walk it out to the mail box.

Clearly the “body politic” is sick.

People are sick and tired of government corruption, legislators taking bribes, “pay to play” campaign spending abuse, SuperPacs spending millions in “dark money”, and a political culture driven by the almighty dollar.

76% of our friends and neighbors are saying, “Why bother to vote at all?”

Blaming the politician is an easy way out.

The truth is, it’s our own damn fault.

Too many of us aren’t willing to take ownership of our core responsibility as citizens.

We are too busy for “civic engagement”. We don’t have time to go to meetings, to make the calls, send the emails, or help candidates.

We have bills to pay, jobs we must show up for, grass to cut, shopping to do, and family and friends to care for.

But somehow we gotta make the time.

It’s not going to get better and our democracy will not get healthier, until we make that extra effort to pay more attention, be more involved, and take ownership of our own local government.

We can beat the big money AND we can create the government we need and deserve. But to get there, we must show up.

This means attending public hearings, sending in testimony, making the phone calls to our elected officials, and VOTING.

It also means making small dollar donations, actively helping candidates who share our values, AND possibly running for office ourselves.

There is a cure for our illness and it is us.

You and me.

We’re all in this together and together we must take action to build the healthy democracy we deserve.

Let’s start the process now.

Let’s each of us take the time TODAY to call our Governor, Dr. Green – (808) 586-0034.
Or email him using his official form.

Dr. Green has the power, literally with the stroke of a pen – to call the legislature into special session at any time.

Calling a special session even for just a few days, would ensure the necessary time is available to pass strong good-governance and anti-corruption legislation into law – THIS YEAR.

There are bills on the table at this very moment addressing directly the “pay to play” culture of corruption that now exists in that big square building on Beretania Street. But those bills have been sidelined and as far as the 2026 regular session is concerned – are now dead.

There are bills that would stop the “two tickets” to a fundraiser charade (IYKYK) – also that have died from neglect.

Also sitting in the darkness of some conference room on the 4th floor are bills that would make “failure to report bribery” a crime for elected officials who witness or have knowledge of such conduct – and choose to just look the other way.

The kicker, the plum, and the cherry on top – would be passage of a strong SB2471 – stripping the power and influence from corporate SuperPacs and “Citizens United”.

With the stroke of a pen, a few phone calls, and a meeting or two among those at the top of the political food chain – our Governor could make this happen.

If he truly wanted to, he could ensure the passage of these 4 measures and significantly heal the civic sickness, distrust, and cynicism that currently envelops the entire culture of government and politics in Hawaiʻi.

Waiting still yet another year, for another legislative session, to do a repeat of what’s happened every year for the past few years, is unacceptable.

Please. Today. Right now.

Call Governor Green (808) 586-0034 and leave him a short message. And/Or email his office using this official form.

Ask him to exercise the leadership needed to restore the health of our government.

Ask him to call for a special legislative session, bring to the table those key policy-makers in the House and Senate, and pass those bills now sitting in the darkness that will:

1) Stop “pay to play” campaign donations made by government contractors, family members, friends, and board members.

2) Eliminate the “two tickets to a fundraiser” scam that allows legislators to channel donor funds between themselves and bypass donation limits.

3) Make it illegal for elected officials to witness government bribery and just look the other way.

AND ask him to sign into law SB2471 that will eliminate corporate SuperPac “dark money” made possible in the past by “Citizens United”.

When you call, please be polite, professional and concise. When leaving a message, make sure you also leave your name and zip code.

If you call and no one answers and perhaps there’s not even an answering machine, please call back and keep calling back until you are at least able to leave a voicemail message.

Please. Make the call 808-586-0034 or send the official email form.

Your action is the key to restoring the health of our government.

Gary Hooser

P.S. PLEASE SHARE! Time is of the essence, the longer it takes to call a special session, the less likely it is to happen..

The vote on electing a PRP SuperPac Board Member and attorney – to be Chief Justice for the State of Hawaiʻi for the next 10 years – passed a Senate floor vote with 20 yes votes and 5 no votes.

Mahalo to Senator(s) Fukunaga, Inouye, Kidani, Rhoads, San Buenaventura – who vote NO.

A special mahalo to Senator San Buenaventura who stood up on the Senate floor and spoke with clarity on why she could not support the nominee. Senator Karl Rhoads, Chair of the Judiciary Committee also deserves an enthusiastic shout out for speaking and voting from the heart during the committee hearing.

My hope of course is that Chief Justice Vladimir Devens will prove us wrong AND that he will in fact be able to set aside whatever internal bias he might have AND he will make decisions free from the influence of his former SuperPac colleagues and associates.

Time will tell, many will be watching, and I wish him well as he embarks upon this new journey.

The closing days of the legislative session are upon us.

Unfortunately the community push to pass legislation stopping “pay to play” campaign spending corruption fell short, as did bills intending to stop the “two tickets” to a fundraiser charade (IYKYK).

Legislators also chose to kill a measure that would have made it a crime for any elected official who witnesses or has knowledge of bribery at the Capitol – and who fails to report it.

The amount of State taxpayer funds for MACRO (military/weapons development PR, kindergarten – 12 defense industry jobs pipeline) that remain in the budget I do not know but am making the appropriate inquiries.

The good news is the nationally recognized measure to restrict “Citizens United” SB2471, passed and will soon be heading to Governor Greens desk. What his intent is, to sign into law or veto…no one knows.

The other great news is the “partial public funding of elections” measure also passed, significantly improving the public funding system now in place. While it falls far short of “full public funding of elections” the strengthening of the existing program should be celebrated.

Kudo’s to the Clean Elections folks who’ve worked really hard on this.

Yes, this is what democracy looks like.

I wish it looked better and hope and expect that it will get better.

But of course: “Life’s not about expecting, hoping and wishing. It’s about doing, being and becoming.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

So…WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NOW?

What is the strategy to truly win against the big money, the greed, and the corporatist mentality that controls so many of the decisions made in that big square building on Beretania Street?

I’m thinking we need to pivot quickly towards the primary elections. We need to reach out to support and invigorate those candidates that are true change-makers.

So today I’m going to dig deep and make a $100 contribution to Nani Brown who’s running for the seat currently held by Senator Donovan Dela Cruz.

Can she win against the most powerful legislator in the building who has $1,258,490 in the bank?

If anyone can beat Senator Dela Cruz it will be Nani Brown.

And it won’t be because she outspends him.

Nani Brown is the real deal. Her heart, soul, commitment to the community, character, work ethic, vivacious and contagious personality, make Nani Brown a force of nature – CHECK HER OUT AND HELP IF YOU CAN –

A victory for Nani Brown would rock the world as we know it.

That’s the kind of mood I’m in.

I’m in the Nani Brown mood.

We’re going to have to kick it up a notch or two and being in the Nani Brown mood will most definitely help us do that.

Please join me in helping her. No contribution is too small, and I am sure any amount will be appreciated. She is not accepting any corporate or PAC funding.

She didn’t ask for me to send this email and doesn’t know I’m doing it.

Let’s help her.

Gary Hooser

I will write a proper debrief and overview in the coming days but in short the vote on electing a PRP SuperPac attorney to be Chief Justice for the State of Hawaiʻi, for the next 10 years – passed a Senate floor vote with 20 yes votes and 5 no votes.

Ayes, 20.

Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Elefante, Ihara, Keohokalole, Lee, C., Moriwaki.

Noes, 5 (Senator(s) Fukunaga, Inouye, Kidani, Rhoads, San Buenaventura). Excused, 0 (none).

A special mahalo to Senator San Buenaventura who stood up on the Senate floor and spoke with clarity on why she could not support the nominee.

More info is here in the Civil Beat story – Hawaiʻi Senate Confirms Vladimir Devens As Chief Justice

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MAKE THE CALL NOW! THIS MORNING Thursday April 30, BEFORE 10am and then SHARE!

If you have the time, watch the YouTube recording for a frank, direct, no holds barred, discussion on the rationale behind the calls that are needed THIS MORNING.

TODAY, this morning is the Hawaiʻi State Senate’s vote to confirm or not confirm Vladimir Devens for Chief justice of Hawaiʻi Supreme Court – for a 10 year term.

He neglected to disclose his relationship with a PRP connected Super Pac which spends millions to influence our elections, supporting their friends and shredding those candidates that do not support their big development agenda. If confirmed by the Senate this morning, he will be in charge of the highest court in our islands and the third branch of our government.

Please call and leave a message for your State Senator NOW – and ask them to vote NO (Bill # is GM 801)

Every island. Here is contact info.

READ Civil Beat Supreme Court Chief Justice Nominee Faces Tough Questions From Senators

Please call and leave a message for your State Senator THIS MORNING BEFORE 10AM and ask them to vote NO!

Bill # is GM 801

We discuss this in our Policy + Politics video/podcast here on YouTube and or on my FaceBook page here.

Yes, it’s last minute but the legislative session ends next week, everything is converging, and the need for citizen advocacy at this moment in time – is especially important.

So we should talk. Please join Aria Castillo and myself live on YouTube and on FaceBook – Tomorrow, Wednesday April 29, at 5pm for a frank, direct, no holds barred, discussion as to what’s going on.

We will be taking your questions and doing our best to update folks as to the current status of important bills, conference committee meetings, and various end of session shenanigans.

Whether it’s government corruption, campaign finance reform, fighting Citizens United, the ongoing battle to pass the budget, the military MICRO fiasco, the appointment of a former SuperPac executive to be the Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court – etc etc etc…we will cover as much as we can AND provide NAMES AND CONTACT INFO of the KEY DECISION MAKERS —We will even make some of those calls live together to show everyone how easy it is.

If we have time, we’ll also talk story about the upcoming primary elections and highlight a few of the more interesting campaigns.

Tomorrow Wednesday April 29 at 5pm live on YouTube and on FaceBook – Policy + Politics with yours truly Gary Hooser AND Aria Juliet 

AND PLEASE HELP US OUT AND SHARE THIS WIDELY TO YOUR FRIENDS AND NETWORKS –

Let’s do this folks…the time is now.

To a large extent Big Money controls who wins and who loses election to public office, and thus Big Money controls our government.

Whether it’s criminal bribery, the legal corruption of “pay to play” campaign contributions, or the millions spent by SuperPacs – it’s totally obvious that Big Money is driving the ship.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

There are multiple bills on the table at this very moment that if passed into law would dramatically reduce the power and influence of Big Money.

Unfortunately, our legislators have already signaled they will pass nothing of any significance. They will nibble around the edges – but they will pass nothing that truly limits the corrupting influence of Big Money.

So yes…we need to reach out NOW, turn it up, and demand action and accountability.

Please make the calls, and send the emails – professional and courteously of course. Contact YOUR district Representative and Senator TODAY (prior to 6pm on Monday April 27) and demand they pass meaningful legislation to limit the power of Big Money – specifically:

1. SB2471 — End Corporate Right to Unlimited Political Spending (without carveouts)
2. HB1519/SB2530 — Close Pay-to-Play Loophole for Government Contractors (with no exemptions for Legislature)
3. SB1032 — End Foreign Corporate Influence In Elections
4. SB2737 – Makes failure to report bribery a crime for elected officials.

Every elected official knows that Big Money can make or break their dreams and political aspirations.

They know also that an organized grassroots effort can do the same.

They learn quickly that keeping their head down and mouths shut is the key to survival. Avoiding tough/divisive (IOW important) votes and public discussion of controversial issues becomes automatic.

Good people, making fear-based decisions.

They look the other way when committee chairs kill bills in the darkness of night or insert funding without public disclosure, discussion, or oversight.

They shrug their shoulders and tell you: “There’s nothing I could do…” “The Chair decided to kill it…” “We ran out of time…” and/or “There’s no money.”

To be clear, there’s ALWAYS something they can do. They can speak out, pull back the curtain, and expose the chicanery.

A Committee Chair cannot kill or pass legislation without the majority of the committee’s active or passive consent. By sitting quietly, heads down and saying nothing, committee members are in fact, supporting the Chair’s action.

If there’s a true desire to pass a bill, there are myriad ways to overcome the “running-out-of-time” issue, schedule a hearing, amend a bill, or find a “vehicle” to carry the legislation forward.

And when they say there’s no money, what they’re really saying is it’s not a priority. The “money chairs” will find the money if the issue/action is one they support.

It’s time we elect people who share our values and who aren’t afraid to stand up against Big Money.

We need courage, commitment, and ACTION from our legislators.

Just being “cool”, calling yourself a progressive, framing your message in “Aloha ʻĀina”, or being part of an underserved community, is not enough.

We need more than that. MUCH more.

We need leaders in that big square building on Beretania Street willing to speak truth to power, and demand of their colleagues the democracy, open process, and sunshine we the people deserve.

We need BOLD, proactive progressives, deeply rooted in community, who will go to the damn wall for people and the planet.

The candidates we need are out there. They’re teaching in classrooms, working in law offices, running small businesses, coaching youth sports, and involved in non-profit advocacy.

All of course are imperfect, and no single person is going to lead us to the promised land.

But every addition to a “people and the planet first” coalition at the legislature, strengthens the character and courage of those already there.

We can beat Big Money.

Direct face-to-face voter contact by hard working candidates with roots in the district will win against Big Money.

If a candidate is willing to knock on doors in the neighborhood, and if you and I are willing to take the time to help them, AND to make our small dollar donations – WE CAN WIN against Big Money.

It’s time we take our democracy, BACK.

Will you join in helping to make this happen?

If so, please make those calls and send those emails TODAY. Your message can be short and simple. “I’m calling to ask you to do the right thing and pass strong versions of SB2471, HB1519/SB2530, SB1032 and SB2737, that push back hard against Big Money, Bribery, and Pay to Play. Whether you are on the committee or not, you have a voice and I’m asking you to use it, and use it publicly – NOW. The courtesy of a reply is appreciated.”

Signed – A constituent who lives in your district and is oh so tired of Big Money and fear-based decision making.