GaryHooser's Blog

As 2021 draws to a close, I think not so much about the coming holidays but more about the work being done in Congress, by our County Council, and in the coming legislative session that opens on Jan. 19, followed oh-so-quickly by the primary election on Aug. 13.

But I think most about that man under the bridge and the challenges he and so many others face daily.

Such is the life of those of us immersed in policy and politics.

I’m hoping an increased interest in civic engagement makes it to your New Years’ resolution list as well.

It’s important. The wrongs of the world will not be made right via the curse of apathy.

Ignoring the man under the bridge does not make him go away. He will only grow more ill, more miserable, and more complicated and costly to deal with later.

The scourges of drug addiction, climate change, poverty, environmental degradation, mental illness, and homelessness will not be resolved by looking the other way.

And complaining, criticizing, and ranting about a dysfunctional and corrupt government serves no useful purpose either.

Please. Put increased civic engagement on the top of your list for the coming year. Be part of the solution, an active ally, not a passive-aggressive opponent.

Join a community organization or club that contributes to making our home a better place. Read about and follow local issues. Submit testimony to the council and state Legislature. Write letters to the editor or opinion pieces in support of or opposition to issues that matter.

Bring a hot meal, perhaps dental care, an affordable home, or a job that pays a living wage to that man under the bridge.

You can do this you know. You have that power.

Civic engagement: It’s what democracy is based on. It’s about all of us taking responsibility for OUR government and OUR community.

Yes, it’s about voting, but it’s about so much more than that. It’s about supporting candidates. It’s about making that decision to be a candidate. It’s about holding elected officials accountable. It’s about talking to friends and neighbors, sharing informed and diverse viewpoints, and being respectful. Sometimes, it’s about agreeing to disagree and moving on.

It’s about each of us taking ownership and personal responsibility for our community.

This is what democracy looks like.

Yes, of course, we each contribute differently, and we each have a different capacity to do so. Some of our neighbors possess great personal wealth, while others live under that bridge, or in the bushes down by the river.

Each of us can and must do our part, and more. Whether it’s that small-but-regular act of kindness and generosity that helps the few, or the huge and monumental contributions that impact generations, all are needed.

Involvement in a community organization, club, place of worship, or nonprofit is a good place to start. But that is not enough.

Please consider including government, policy, politics, and active civic engagement as one of your top 2022 New Year resolutions.

Don’t tell me you’re too busy. We are all too busy. But we make time because we must.

If you are serious about activating your civic engagement responsibilities – Please consider opting-in at https://policy-and-politics.mailchimpsites.com to receive my occasional “policy and politics” email/update/missives. I promise to not fill your inbox with pap.

Well, the Build Back Better plan has passed. Yes, it’s a historical piece of legislation, but it could have been so much more so.

Because of a handful of conservative Democrats and 100% of the Republicans in Congress, 62 million Medicare recipients will not be receiving help with their dental and vision needs this coming year.

Instead, 62 million kupuna, our parents and grandparents living in what is supposed to be their golden years, are being denied this little bit of extra help because 2 Democrats in the Senate and another 6 to 9 in the House, together with their Republican allies would rather protect the Elon Musk billionaires of the world.

This same unholy alliance between conservative “D’s” and Republicans have also managed to deny 4 million high school graduates the opportunity to attend a community college or trade school regardless of their ability to pay.

If the Democrats had stuck together, there were sufficient votes to get the job done and pass a truly monumental piece of legislation, but unfortunately, that was not to be the case (pun intended).

Yes, the cold hard truth is that passage of the Build Back Better bill has been repeatedly blocked, and provisions such as those cited above, repeatedly weakened by the actions of a small group of House and Senate conservative Democrats including Hawaii’ Congressman Ed Case (CD1).

Recently, under the guise of being “fiscally conservative”, they were demanding proof that the proposal was “paid for” and would not increase the federal debt. Though President Biden and others had assured them that this will ultimately be the case, they continued to stall passage awaiting the “final reports” from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

It’s important to note that Case and the others did not make this same demand when approving the recently passed massive infrastructure bill, nor did they insist on this when approving military spending totaling $8 trillion over the same period.

Not surprisingly, Congressman Kaialiʻi Kahele (CD2) who represents the neighbor-islands and rural Oahu, and both Senator Schatz and Senator Hirono are all enthusiastic supporters of the measure and have been fighting hard to keep it strong.

This has been a critical week. The House of Representatives has finally passed this $1.75 trillion dollar measure, that while significantly weakened by this small conservative faction of Congressional Democrats – is still a potentially historic accomplishment.

What exactly is in it?
* Universal preschool for all 3- and 4-year olds.
* Capping childcare costs at 7% of income for parents earning up to 250% of a state’s median income.
* 4 weeks of federal paid parental, sick, or caregiver leave.
* A one-year extension of the expanded Child Tax Credits which has cut child poverty in America by 25%.
* New hearing benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, including coverage for a new hearing aid every 5 years.
* A $35 per-month limit on the cost of insulin under Medicare, and capping out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000 per year.
* Raising the state/local tax deduction limit from $10,000 to $80,000.
* $500 billion to combat climate change – The largest-ever federal investment in clean energy.
* $150 billion for affordable housing.

What’s next?

The House of Representatives voted on the bill today, with Representative Kaialiʻi (Kai) Kahele (CD2) voting in support, and ultimately Representative Ed Case (CD1) casting his vote in support as well. The measure now passes over to the Senate where further changes will likely be made – and the sausage-making will continue.

AND YES, I AM 100% SUPPORTING SERGIO ALCUBILLA IN HIS CAMPAIGN FOR CONGRESS!
https://www.sergio4hawaii.com

Having a government that works for the people and operates in a manner that is transparent and accountable – is a worthy goal that cuts across ideological lines.

Thus we must celebrate the Hawaii Supreme Courts’ recent decision on the legislative practice known as “gut and replace.”

Common Cause and the League of Women Voters should be commended for taking this issue to court and persevering. As a result, the message to the legislature is loud and clear: “Gutting” or remove the contents of a bill that has gone through 3/4 of the legislative process (and multiple public hearings) and “replacing” the contents of that bill with proposed changes to the law unrelated to the original bill, thus bypassing the legally required public review process – is unacceptable and unconstitutional.

While the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled only on one specific legislative application of this practice, the legislature has clearly been put on notice.

Note: The original version of this blog piece stated that the court decision would “eliminate” the practice of gut and replace. This is incorrect since the court decision only applied to one specific situation. However, at the minimum, it should greatly inhibit its use in the future. IMHO

We must celebrate this major victory for transparency and accountability, but we must also continue pushing to eliminate a long list of legislative practices that have both gutted and corrupted the lawmaking process here in Hawaii.

There are four main remaining “process” obstacles to legislative accountability and one sweeping solution.

#1) The vast majority of bills introduced by our elected members of the State House and Senate are killed, without ever receiving even a single public hearing. Legislative rules in Hawaii allow the Chair of a committee to unilaterally choose not to hear any bill referred to their committee.

This holds true even if the bill had successfully passed through numerous previous committees in both the House and the Senate. Any subsequent committee Chair may simply refuse to hold a hearing – thus killing the bill without any explanation.

#2) Bills that actually do receive a hearing and are not supported by the Chair, are normally killed without any member of that committee actually voting to kill them. Consequently, no member is ever “on record” voting against any bill. If the Chair chooses not to pass a measure, they will simply “defer” the measure and no vote is taken. This practice is also permitted under the legislative rules.

#3) It is common practice also that when committee hearings are conducted, the Chair at the conclusion of the hearing will verbally announce various amendments to the bill, and a vote will be taken to approve those amendments – even though nothing in writing may have been provided to committee members (not to mention to the public).

I am told that in the “old days”, the Chair was required to provide committee members and the public with any proposed amendments in advance so they would have time to review and perhaps comment or offer further amendments prior to the vote.

#4) Far too many decisions are made in the back rooms, away from the sunshine and public oversight.

The Hawaii State Constitution Article III – Section 12 states:
“Every meeting of a committee in either house or of a committee comprised of a member or members of both houses held for the purpose of making a decision on matters referred to the committee shall be open to the public.”

It’s common practice for committee members, certainly the Chair’s, to meet in private “for the purpose of making a decision on matters referred to the committee”. They meet in private, negotiate in private, and agree on the outcomes in private, emerging from the closed private meetings to announce the outcome and then formally vote at the public meeting.

The solution: Change the legislative rules. Adopt a legislative budget and schedule to allow for the extra time and the additional staffing needed to do it right. The rules can be changed at any time by a majority of the members.

My hope is that in 2022 we elect such a majority.

Recently I wrote a column in which I suggest that President Biden should “Give them (those who are blocking the Build Back Better legislation) a freeway, an airport, a rail system, or maybe a football stadium. Name an aircraft carrier, battleship, or destroyer after them. Just cut the deal.”

I suspect more than a few readers find this approach to legislating a bit unseemly, and view vote trading akin to bribery, extortion and/or kidnapping and holding for ransom.

Welcome to the world of politics. Some issues gain broad-based support with minimal gamesmanship but when a “swing vote” is involved things can often get ugly.

When proponents are one vote short of the number needed to pass something, that final vote is considered the “swing vote”. The raw translation: If you want my swing vote, then you must give me something in return.

This is what’s called leverage.

A single legislator or in this case two, Senator Manchin (WV) and Sinema (AZ) are the Democratic swing votes needed in the U.S. Senate in order to pass the Build Back Better legislation.

Legislators are there to pass into law new public policy, increase or decrease funding for government programs, and fund and approve public infrastructure known as capitol improvement projects or CIP (roads, bridges, airports, harbors, etc).

What is an important policy, program, or CIP project for one legislator or one group of legislators, may not be important to another legislator or group of legislators. They may represent different geographical or demographical interest groups, and it’s not unusual that they have different perspectives, and priorities.

Consequently, when attempting to pull the needed votes together to actually accomplish something, different legislators or groups of legislators will “trade votes”.

To have integrity, vote trading must involve legitimate and necessary policy, programs, and/or CIP. For example: I’ll support building that new school cafeteria in your district this year, if next year you support building that much-needed highway in mine. Both are legitimate public needs, but the question is one of timing and priorities.

Another example: I‘ll support increasing the minimum wage if you support increased tax credits for small businesses. A legislator might not really think tax credits are necessary, but they might be willing to go along because of the greater good achieved by passing an increase in the minimum wage. Similarly, a legislator might detest increasing the minimum wage but can live with it if there were tax credits for small businesses.

A third example is the cross-trading of policy, programs, or CIP and totally unrelated items such as office staffing or committee assignments. A certain policy or program might be on the table for a vote, and a legislator who might represent the critical swing vote will say something to the effect that “I will hold my nose and support this policy change, IF I get this specific CIP project funded for my district, and if I get XYZ etc.”

This is how the sausage of lawmaking is accomplished at all levels of elective office – County, State and Federal. It’s not pretty, but barring the election of a strong majority with common values and vision, it’s how contrary positions ultimately come together to move the ball forward.

The fact that Senators Manchin and Sinema, both Democrats, are using their positions as swing votes to leverage the Democratic Majority and the Democratic President, is both shameful, and an egregious abuse of power. It’s unfortunate and equally shameful, that not one single Republican will cross over to support what has the potential to be the most significant legislation since FDR’s “New Deal” passed in 1933.

Louis L’Amour’s novel Sitka should be required reading by all who serve in elective office.

“He knew how to line up the votes, knew what the states and territories needed, and he knew that statecraft consists of a reconciling of viewpoints, and to be a superior statesman one must also be a superior politician. It was not enough to have vision, to have a program. It was not enough to be strong, sincere, honest. In a democracy, one also needed votes, and to put over a program one must find a way to win the votes of those with less vision and possibly even less loyalty to country.” (Sitka page 320)

President Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan is a once in a generation proposal that if passed has the potential to dramatically improve the lives of working people, retiree’s, and families across the country – all paid for by rolling back the Trump tax cuts and increases on those earning over $400,000.

While Hawaii Congressman Ed Case is also maneuvering to delay passage and reduce the benefits being offered, Senators Joe Manchin (WV) and Kristen Sinema (AZ), are the two biggest problems standing in the way of passing this historical legislation.

It’s time to cut a deal with Senator’s Manchin and Sinema. Politics 101 – find out what they want and give it to them.

To those who say hell no, we give them nothing – relax, take a breath, and look at the bigger picture. Know also that karma has a way of taking care of things like this.

They want to win. So BFD, let them win. Just make sure we win too. The real winner will be people and the planet.

Use the fuzzy math government accountants and legislators are famous for. Reduce the number, without really reducing the number. Drop it from $3.5 trillion to $2.9 trillion by reducing the term from 10 years to 9, delay or phase-in implementation. The bottom line is make the “top line” appear to drop below $3 trillion, without actually reducing programs or benefits. Whatever – just maintain the benefits and reduce the big number slightly so the two Senators can save face and look cool.

Then, allow them to look really cool and powerful by throwing some big dog stuff to Arizona and West Virginia. Give them a freeway, an airport, a rail system, or maybe a football stadium. Name an aircraft carrier, battleship, or destroyer after them. Whatever – just cut the damn deal.

And do it quickly. The longer it takes to cut the deal the less likely the deal will be cut. There are too many things on edge right now: health, labor, business, social, and environmental. It’s as if multiple volcanos are ready to explode.

We need to close this deal, now.

If the two Senate Democrats don’t want to play ball, then find two Senate Republicans who are hungry for fame and the history books. Then, cut a deal with them.

Seven Republican Senators voted to convict and impeach Trump. There must be at least two of them who would love to have an aircraft carrier or nuclear submarine named after them, be known forever for their bi-partisan acumen, AND bring home the largest slab of bacon ever to their State.

It’s time for President Biden to play hardball. Each of these Senators, Democrats and Republicans alike, just wanna win. They wanna look good back home, be in the history books, and get some big piece of floating metal named after them.

I say give it to them. Let them win, and at the same time give a hugely big win to the American people as well. But do it now, before something blows up – both literally and figuratively.

As a lifelong readaholic, I recently decided to find out why the novels of Louis L’Amour are so popular. Being a fan of historical fiction, I borrowed his book Sitka from the library.

On page 320 I found this passage, which you might find useful in coaching aspiring politicians:

“He, Walker,had been called a genius of party management. To many outside the understanding of world affairs, the term might seem less than flattering, yet Walker preferred it to any other. He knew how to line up the votes, knew what the states and territories needed, and he knew that statecraft consists of a reconciling of viewpoints, and to be a superior statesman one must also be a superior politician. It was not enough to have vision, to have a program. It was not enough to be strong, sincere, honest. In a democracy one also needed votes, and to put over a program one must find a way to win the votes of those with less vision and possibly even less loyalty to country.”

*Above is a note that came in my email this morning from a friend/associate. It made me think, and so I thought it important to share.

On October 11th, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order banning any entity in Texas, including private businesses, from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for employees or customers.

President Biden however has requested that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) develop rules requiring all employers with 100+ employees to ensure their workers are vaccinated or tested weekly.

Both American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are based in Texas. They will now have to choose to either follow United Airlines and other major air carriers in compliance with the proposed federal rules or answer to the governor of their home state of Texas. *American Airlines and Southwest Airlines announced late Tuesday they would not comply with the governor’s order.

President Biden’s plans also require health care employers to mandate worker vaccinations at facilities that treat patients with public health insurance. Facilities that don’t comply risk losing federal reimbursement – a sticky wicket to say the least.

So far, 21 states, all with Republican Governors have enacted laws or issued executive orders banning proof of vaccination requirements.

A State order prohibiting a private business from complying with the Federal governments’ rules puts those businesses between a rock and a very hard place.

With no consistent rule of law, these businesses face the ire and wrath from a very passionate public that will no doubt come at them from all sides of the argument.

To be clear this is an argument and not a debate. COVID is real. Vaccines greatly reduce the negative health impacts of COVID. States with higher vaccination rates have lower COVID infection and death rates. These are the facts and no YouTube video is qualified to dispute them.

Ultimately the courts will decide that federal law, rules, and executive orders will preempt any conflicting state law or executive order. Trust me on this one. I’ve some experience with preemption law.

Whether the various Governors, State legislators, members of Congress, or the general public will choose to respect, honor, and trust the courts’ decision is another matter.

It’s all very unsettling and some would say, downright destabilizing. Still others would say it’s all part of a grand plan that will result in a “strong man” (read – oligarch, narcissist, compulsive liar, who denies losing his most recent election) stepping up to lead (read control) the country, crackdown on the craziness, and bring order, peace, and safety (read fascism) to America.

I prefer to believe that rather than some complex plan being orchestrated by smart rich people somehow connected to the Illuminati – what’s going on today is simply politics on steroids. Like an out-of-control car hurtling down a mountain road without brakes. The speed of the car just continues to increase and no one knows what’s around the next corner.

As simple and basic as it sounds, the answer here in the islands is to think global and act local. Focusing here locally to increase affordable housing, protect our natural environment, increase local food production, become energy self-sufficient, and in general support local residents – is our answer.

Fortunately, we have the Pacific Ocean to protect us from the madness occurring now on the continent. We should be thankful as well that our government leaders have so far anyway, not drank the Kool-Aid offered by the far-right, and operate from a space that is calm and thoughtful.

We might not always agree with our Mayor and Governor, but it’s clear their decisions are based on what they truly believe is best for our community, and not driven by ego, arrogance, or concerns about the next election.

Yes. Lucky we live Hawai’i. Let’s keep it that way.

Often I get asked by readers, why I am supporting Candidate X over Candidate Y (who is often the incumbent).

The short answer is one that the totally awesome former Ohio Sen. Nina Turner has by now made famous: “Just any ole blue won’t do.”

Yes, Candidate Y is a nice person. And yes, Candidate Y may be good on environmental or other specific subject-matter issues, and they may even return my telephone calls and are always pleasant, courteous and professional. That’s all good stuff, but it’s not enough. Not by a long shot.

Our community needs change-makers, not just place-holders.

We need legislators who are willing to fight hard for the rights and needs of regular local people AND protect our natural environment.

We need legislators and policymakers who feel deep down the urgency of the moment. We need individuals serving us in public office who have both the commitment and the courage to take the bold action so desperately needed now.

Sitting in the back row, keeping your head down, not making waves, then going home and bragging about the money you brought back to the district is not enough. Moving baby-step Bills and passing strongly-worded Resolutions that hold no legal authority also is not enough.

Climate change is real and poses an existential threat to our island home, and to the homes of friends around the world. Our local economy is dominated by and addicted to military spending and the tourism industry — both of which have hugely negative environmental and societal impacts. We have families living in encampments under bridges, in our beach parks, and alongside our roadways. The median price of a single-family home exceeds $1 million, while our minimum wage remains stuck at $10.10 per hour.

Simply holding space at the Legislature, balancing the budget, staying out of trouble, and looking good in a jacket, are not enough.

We need to elect government leaders who understand the desperate times we are living in, who feel the urgency and obligation in their gut, and who are willing to fight hard to make the changes needed now to improve the lives of regular people and protect our planet.

Some will say there should not be a “litmus test.” I disagree.

For me to support a candidate there are three:

They must believe that if someone works 40 hours a week, they deserve to be paid a wage sufficient to provide basic housing, medical care, and three meals a day: a living wage;

They must believe and understand that environmental protection is a public-trust responsibility. Our water, our coastlines, and our public lands cannot be sold or privatized, and must be protected;

They must believe that everyone deserves to be treated equally and with respect, regardless of color, ethnicity, religious affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, age, or income status.

But simply believing in these things is still not enough. We need to elect leaders who possess the self-confidence and inner strength of character needed to vote their conscience, speak truth to power, and make the “good trouble” so desperately needed at this particular point in our history.

Hawaii is a blue state dominated by Democrats and the Democratic Party. Conventional wisdom though this may be, it’s only half true. And even the half that’s true is not really true. Dwell on that for a moment.

All too often we hear variations of, “As long as the one party-political mafia gate-holders have a stranglehold on who gets to be a candidate, you will only see more of the same.”

As the former Vice-Chair of the Democratic Party of Hawaii (DPH), I will share with you some not so secret, secrets.

The DPH does not pick and choose candidates. Any individual who is a member of the Party can place a “D” next to their name and run in any election as a Democrat. The Party has no say in the matter whatsoever.

The DPH does not actively nor officially help any candidate running in the Primary Election, where Democrats will challenge Democrats.

The truth is the Party mostly has nothing to do at all with deciding who runs and who doesn’t. These decisions are made by the individual candidates.

Yes, there are a variety of players who encourage various individuals to run and who offer support to both new and incumbent candidates. And yes, these individuals are sometimes but not always affiliated with the Party.

More often the core allegiance of the various players and political operatives is based on the needs and goals of special interest groups – labor, business, environment, agriculture, construction etc.

Interest groups pleased with their preferred legislator’s performance will continue to support them, and those not pleased will seek to find a challenger to “take out” an incumbent.

The DPH has a strong social, environmental, and economic justice platform. Those serving in public office are expected to support the platform, but there is no mechanism to ensure this happens – none, zero, nada.

Anyone doubting this need only look at the failures of leadership in the State House. Year after year they simply ignore DPH priorities, focusing instead on pleasing various business and tourism industry organizations.

Think of the Party as a brand. The politically preferable brand for a majority of voters in Hawaii is the “D”. Consequently, most candidates choose to run as Democrats.

Because of the hard work and relentless commitment by rank and file Party members over the years, the DPH brand is a stellar one.

Unfortunately, in recent years the brand has been tarnished by incumbent legislators who are essentially corporatists.

Working people struggle daily just to survive, our stream waters have been taken over by big business, the houseless have been criminalized, and our economy remains dominated by military spending and tourism.

If real Democrats were truly in charge the minimum wage in Hawaii would be $15 now and headed without question toward a true living wage. If Democrats who actually believed in the Democratic platform and values were really at the helm, luxury second homes and real estate speculators would be paying the highest taxes in the nation not the lowest, AND the lack of affordable housing would have been declared an emergency a long time ago.

So the not-so-secret secret is that the Democratic Party of Hawaii is not in charge, it’s the corporatists that have hijacked the “D” brand who are actually running the show.

We can change this of course. It starts with finding and supporting new candidates who truly believe in the principles and values upon which the Democratic Party of Hawaii is based. We need to find real “D’s” to run against the faux “D’s” and those who carry water for their enablers.

Hawaii Congressman Ed Case is siding with the Republicans (IMHO) and Conservative Democrats attempting to sabotage the President’s $3.5 trillion social infrastructure plan – Please call Case today and ask him to help build the plan up rather than tear it down. Ask him to help make it stronger instead of joining with those who would make it weaker – call today Representative Ed Case (808) 650-6688

Today, if you are a senior citizen on Social Security and Medicare, and you cannot afford to purchase additional insurance, you have no dental, hearing, or vision coverage. Imagine the quality of life (or lack thereof) of kūpuna without teeth, who only hear half the words coming from their grandchildren’s mouth, and are homebound because their vision is so poor.

This could all change in the next few months IF the current majority of Democrats in Congress stick together and vote yes in support of President Biden’s $3.5 trillion (over 10 years) “Build Back Better Agenda”.

Unfortunately, every single Republican in Congress has indicated they will be voting no. If Democrats stick together the measure will pass, but it will be very close.

Three of our four Hawai‘i members of Congress, Representative Kaialiʻi (Kai) Kahele (CD2), Senator Mazie Hirono, and Senator Brian Schatz, have expressed strong support for this once-in-a-generation legislative initiative.

Only Congressman Ed Case (CD1) has expressed hesitancy and while publicly expressing support, he appears to be working at cross purposes – attempting to undermine rather than strengthen the legislation.

According to multiple media reports, in addition to the opposition coming from Republicans, a small group of conservative Democrats including Congressman Case is attempting to delay and impede the efforts of President Biden and the Majority Democrats who are in strong support. Case’s group is pushing for the measure to be “de-linked” from a separate physical infrastructure bill which is also poised to pass into law. President Biden and the Majority Leadership in Congress oppose the de-linking as that action is widely seen as a maneuver that ultimately weakens the prospect of passing the larger $3.5 trillion package.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that the only thing standing between 61 million Medicare recipients getting their teeth fixed, a better pair of glasses, and finally that hearing aid they have been waiting so long for – are 12 Democrats: Senator Manchin (West Virginia), Senator Sinema (Arizona), Representative Ed Case (Hawai’i), and 9 of his friends in the House of Representatives.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, “37 million people, or nearly two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries, have no dental coverage. Not coincidently, half of all beneficiaries reported they had not been to a dentist in the past year and 15 percent said they had no teeth at all.” The National Institute for Health estimates, “about one-third of those between 65 and 74 have hearing loss, as do nearly half of those older than 75. On average, hearing aids cost between $1000 and $5000.”(Forbes 07/22/21)

In addition to the long-overdue expansion of Medicare, the Biden “Build Back Better Agenda” includes provisions that will lower costs for families with young children by expanding the Child Tax Credit and reduce taxes for 25 million low-moderate wage workers via the earned income tax credit. The plan also invests heavily in fighting climate change, expanding opportunities in education, and supporting the construction of millions of affordable homes.

“The Build Back Better Agenda is an ambitious plan to create jobs, cut taxes, and lower costs for working families – all paid for by making the tax code fairer and making the wealthiest and large corporations pay their fair share.” The White House Fact Sheet

This could all happen in just a few weeks’ time, and all with just the stroke of a pen, or it could take months and be dramatically reduced in size and scope. Or it could fail completely, due to the lack of literally only a handful of votes.

If passage of the Build Back Better Agenda is important to you, I encourage you to call every member of the Hawai‘i Congressional delegation today and let them know: Representative Ed Case (808) 650-6688, Representative Kaialiʻi (Kai) Kahele (808) 746-6220, Senator Mazie Hirono (808) 522-8970, Senator Brian Schatz (808) 523-2061.