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