SB3240 is dead.
You, the regular citizen on the street, decided to get involved – YOU read the bill, YOU submitted testimony, YOU called and emailed the committee members directly, YOU shared the “action alerts” and “liked” the social media postings.
The Committee members and Chair Belatti heard you loud and clear and decided it was best to “defer SB3240” and essentially “kill the bill”.
Congratulations to each and every one of you that took the time, made the effort, and showed up (both virtually, via email, and in person).
To be absolutely clear, this was a very big win.
When we show up, we win. Please help again today if you can (see at the bottom).
You may be wondering, what’s the back story?
What is SB3240 all about and how is it related to HB2235? Who is MACRO and what is their mission and purpose? How does it all relate to Pōhakuloa and making Hawaiʻi “a hub for Pacific arms manufacturing”?
SB3240 was introduced by Senators: Carol Fukunaga and Stanley Chang.
A similar measure, HB2235 was introduced by Representatives: Della Belatti, Terez Amato, Sam Kong, Lisa Marten, Garner Shimizu, and Adrian Tam.
Both Bills were intended to provide $1.3 million in State funding to boost the defense industries local public relations effort, AND to support access to public school students K-12.
The money was to be channeled through the Hawaiʻi Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) into the budget of the attached Military and Community Relations Office (MACRO).
MACRO was established via a federal grant of $3.2 million in March 2024, one month before the U.S. Army’s proposed Pōhakuloa lease extension “second draft” Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) review period began on April 19, 2024.
MACRO’s mission is “To promote positive relationships between Hawai‘i’s military and civilian sectors…”.
Needless to say the Army’s EIS failed to gain the acceptance of both the “civilian” sector (aka community) and the State of Hawaiʻi Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR).
MACRO is now a member of the Governors Advisory Committee For Military Leased Lands which will be making recommendations on Pōhakuloa and other pending leases.
To achieve their goal of making Hawaiʻi’ “a hub for Pacific arms manufacturing”, the federal government then began shoveling more millions through the State DEBDT to MACRO who dutifully stepped up their game.
They generated more press releases, ghost wrote additional opeds, public testimony, community workdays, tv interviews, and school “careers days”, etc.
MACRO hired a PR company to use “automated data scraping tools to collect and analyze relevant public commentary from news sites, blogs, forums, and social media platforms to assess evolving sentiment toward military-related issues…”.
Convincing the Chair of the House Public Safety Committee Representative Della Belatti to kill SB3240 which was essentially the Senate version of HB2235 that she herself sponsored – represents a major win for our community.
Yes, we should thank Chair Belatti and committee members.
But to be absolutely clear, credit for this huge achievement goes to those hundreds of citizens who took the time to submit testimony, send off those emails, make the phone calls, like and share FB posts, Instagram reels etc etc etc.
When the House version…HB2235 was first “heard” on Feb. 6, Chair Belatti and every committee member voted in support, except Vice Chair Kim Coco Iwamoto who was the solitary No vote.
HB2235 then sailed through the House Economic Development Committee under the guidance of Chair Representative Greggor Ilagan.
There was no testimony opposing HB2235 in either House committee.
Nothing. Zero. Nada. Radio silence.
Fortunately, Finance Chair Rep. Chris Todd chose not to schedule HB2235 for a hearing, thus killing it dead. He also deserves a big mahalo.
Meanwhile, SB3240 with similar language and purpose, was moving along without opposition until a single citizen submitted opposing testimony, AND most importantly started spreading the word about this “very bad bill”.
Unbelievably, prior to “crossing over to the House”, SB3240 passed through two Senate committees with unanimous votes, and on the Senate floor – 24 of 25 State Senators voted in support of (Senator Ihara was absent).
Really?
24 of 25 State Senators believed it was a good idea for the State to fund a defense industry cheerleading squad AND invite them to meet our k-12 graders?
Like wildfire the word then began to spread to civic minded advocates across the islands.
The testimony, email, phone calls, and social media awareness – grew to a point that could not be ignored and SB3240 was killed in the House Public Safety Committee, when Chair Belatti recommended deferral.
Mahalo to all who took the time, showed up, sent in testimony, called Representatives, and shared the message with family and friends – This huge win would not have happened without you.
What’s next?
I thought you would never ask 😉
URGENT – 2 (easy)actions that are needed NOW – ASAP
Just two telephone calls and two emails can make a huge difference. Please help.
Action Alert #1
Please call 808-586-8510 and email reptarnas@capitol.hawaii.gov and ask Representative David Tarnas Chair of the House Judiciary Committee professionally and politely to schedule SB2313 for a hearing by by tomorrow, Wednesday 03/25.
We need to go to the wall for SB2313 which “Establishes a comprehensive system of public financing for all candidates seeking election to state and county public offices in the State, to begin with the 2028 general election year.”
If we are serious about campaign finance reform, this is it folks.
SB2313 provides the framework and contains the necessary safeguards to ensure qualified candidates can focus on the needs of regular working people, and not always be seeking big money contributions from special interests.
SB2313 has already passed unanimously in the State Senate. It must be scheduled soon in the House by Rep. Tarnas – or it will die.
PLEASE CALL AND EMAIL REPRESENTATIVE TARNAS TODAY!
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Action Alert #2
Please call 808-586-6130 and email senrhoads@capitol.hawaii.gov and ask Senator Karl Rhoads Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee professionally and politely to schedule HB772 for a hearing by tomorrow, Wednesday 03/25.
HB772 is a critical piece of the “citizens good government agenda” and has zero impact on the State budget. HB772 if passed will stop what is sometimes described as the “two-tickets-for-a-fundraiser scam” – that presently allows legislators to transfer funds between their campaigns.
HB772 closes this loophole.
HB772 has already passed unanimously in the State House. It must be scheduled soon in the Senate – or it will die.
PLEASE CALL AND EMAIL SENATOR RHOADS TODAY!
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