Author Archives: garyhooser

This past Thursday’s much anticipated House action in support of increasing the minimum wage and blocking the tax on unemployment did not happen. To find out why, call your Representative. They will tell you “There weren’t enough votes.” Of course, … Continue reading →

On Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 1:30pm, the State Legislature’s House Committee on Finance is holding a hearing on SB266. Why is this important and why have you not heard about this before? To make a long story short, back … Continue reading →

Unfortunately, House Leadership continues to play fast and loose with the rules, the law, and the intent of the State Constitution. AND they continue to “lead” their members down a path fraught with bad policy, bad process…and worst of all … Continue reading →

Expanding the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) via a new $1.9 billion radar project that the Pentagon doesn’t want, says isn’t needed and will be obsolete before it’s even completed – is a bad idea. The benefits of the pork … Continue reading →

The House of Representatives in Hawaii is essentially telling that man under the bridge – too bad, too sad. Get a second, or third job, or do whatever, just suck it up and stop complaining is the message. We’ve got … Continue reading →

Your calls to Representative Nakashima encouraging him to give a fair hearing to SB767 relating to the legalization of cannabis – definitely worked. As a result of the many calls that were made to his office, Representative Nakashima is walking … Continue reading →

Here is a short but long list of important bills that need your/our attention today. Please – Take the time to submit something even if it is short and to the point. This may be the last chance for you … Continue reading →

SB676 increasing the minimum wage to $12 has passed out of the Senate and is now awaiting a hearing by Representative Richard Onishi, Chair of the House Labor and Tourism Committee. Unfortunately, it appears that House Speaker Scott Saiki is … Continue reading →

What if Hawaii residents, fed up with the lack of leadership at the state legislature, decided to take matters into their own hands and change the law themselves? This is the power of citizen initiative. “A process of a participatory … Continue reading →

A “radical centrist” is how I’ve recently taken to describing myself and my politics. Needless to say, I’ve taken flack from progressive friends on the left who see centrists as the enemy, blue dogs, and regressive corporatists in hiding. I … Continue reading →