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I admired Ilagan for taking time to research the science behind GMOs and take a stand in defending them but the gushing support of Kenoi was ridiculous. Ruderman lost all my respect when he told people not to question the expertise of the person he chose to represent the anti-GMO opinion - someone who has no science qualifications whatsoever.
For me, that cancels out the behavior of both.
The problem is, who's left?
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It's not even a close comparison IMHO. The council member has little to show for his time on the council and given his consistent gaffes, should probably stay on the council another term if he really is serious about being a career politician. As for his taking the time to research the GMO debate, he was merely stalling until the last possible moment and went with a safe explanation of his position. He is no leader, he appears to like to start things but never has managed to complete anything, personally I am not much for wet finger in the air types being in positions of importance. His admitted backroom deal to gain the support of the Senate President (who has been a disappointing failure) and the related funds are a perfect illustration that he is nothing more than a puppet with strings of (hopeful) gold and will never anything more than a puppet. A word of advice to the young and inexperienced councilman, when you sit down to a game of poker and you can't spot the sucker at the table, you're it.
As for the Senator, his record at the Capitol stands well as a first term official with some excellent bills of substance passed. The Senator has not flinched and stood firm on many important issues, especially on good government and transparency issues, and the environment - and when that kind of fortitude results in having a ethically challenged Senate President openly funding the campaigns against you, you know you are doing the right thing.
Not surprising, the current leadership is a one and done hui of infighting and lack of out of the box thinking as witnessed by anyone who bothered to watch the hearings this session, and leadership's lack of collective accomplishments will be painfully exposed in a few weeks no matter how much self-congratulatory backslapping they do to one another. With the upcoming elections, there will likely be some surprising new players in the mix, as a couple of long-term career politicians will be looking for a new job come November, and the remnants of the leadership faction (who are creatively challenged when it comes to governing) will desperately need the support of those they ousted last year with our current Senator being in a prime experienced position. Something that our not ready for primetime councilman is woefully unable to accomplish, much less handle at this stage of his embarrassing political naivety.
Edited for usual typos.
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Don't speak unless you can improve on the silence.
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Don't speak unless you can improve on the silence.
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Come on people, this was a meeting about next year's budget and the management of the county government. Any comments about Billy's ethics and the pCard abuse would be ruled out of order because that is not on the agenda. Even Margaret sang his praises.
There is an item on the Finance Committee agenda next week Tuesday to talk about the mayor and the ethics charges. It will be discussed at the appropriate time.
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AM
Given your awareness of legislative process (I'm especially impressed by your knowledge of the arcane) as expressed in the "Blank Geothermal Bill...." thread also on this forum I'd like you to develop your statement;
"....As for the Senator, his record at the Capitol stands well as a first term official with some excellent bills of substance passed...."
I like Russell. However I have to ask, to which bills are you referring? In the context of this thread I would have asked the same question of an Illagen supporter who attributed similar credit to him. I happen to think he's a member of a credible majority on the council, but I am not aware of any significant bills he has authored and led to passage.
Nor with Russell, to this point.
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It's a sad commentary, but my standard for an elected official has now stooped to the level of "am I embarrassed to be represented by him/her"? By that standard, I's be inclined to keep Russell in the Senate, if only to build seniority. I like Greggor as a person and think he's been OK as a Council member, but I think it is premature for him to run for higher office based on his experience to date.
Now, to bring the thread back to its original topic, I don't think Greggor or the other Council members were out of line to give Billy some praise. Granted, the pCard issue is a serious concern that will be addressed by the courts. But I think on the whole, Billy's record of financial responsibility, disaster preparedness/management and overall government management has a lot of positives worthy of praise. Having said that, by my "am I embarrassed" standard, based on the pcard issues Billy would not get my vote were he eligible to run for reelection.
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But I think on the whole, Billy's record of financial responsibility,
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Really? With the huge borrowing he has done?
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Billy's record of financial responsibility
It's a simple matter of which way you point that "responsibility".
Kenoi did a great job (for himself), perhaps a not-so-great job (for us).
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quote:
Originally posted by HiloPuna
AM
Given your awareness of legislative process (I'm especially impressed by your knowledge of the arcane) as expressed in the "Blank Geothermal Bill...." thread also on this forum I'd like you to develop your statement;
"....As for the Senator, his record at the Capitol stands well as a first term official with some excellent bills of substance passed...."
I like Russell. However I have to ask, to which bills are you referring? In the context of this thread I would have asked the same question of an Illagen supporter who attributed similar credit to him. I happen to think he's a member of a credible majority on the council, but I am not aware of any significant bills he has authored and led to passage.
Nor with Russell, to this point.
Thank you, but I am just a political/legislative junkie of sorts...
Ruderman was the primary introducer of the Farm to School bill that was signed into law, as was the property insurance bill. He also co-introduced legislation prohibiting discrimination against medical cannabis patients and a wastewater bill that allows counties to approve of composting toilets for areas not connected to city systems, both signed into law.
As Ag chair he passed out several excellent bills including bio-security loans, good ag practices program, hydro electric facilities for farmers, and bills that paid for repair/maintenance of neglected irrigation systems that are used by many communities as their only water supply.
There are more bills that he was an introducer on that were signed into law. a quick search of the legislature website shows bills signed into law relating to Autism, highway safety, prisons, energy response and food security, consumer protections deceptive practices,highway safety,community based renewable energy, and a host of others, but would require some additional looking into that I don't have time or the inclination to do right now. Maybe late on a Sunday night sometime...
It's all there for those truly interested in knowing at the Leg website.
www.capitol.hawaii.gov
Edited for typos, and probably didn't get all them ...
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Don't speak unless you can improve on the silence.
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Don't speak unless you can improve on the silence.
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"Ruderman was the primary introducer of the Farm to School bill that was signed into law"
Did they fund this ? Looks like the funding was stripped .
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a wastewater bill that allows counties to approve of composting toilets
Has County followed through on this? It would actually help...
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