Abercrombi's veto list

[Opihikaobob]

In particular his planned veto of SB2682 SD1 HD2 CD1 Measure Title: RELATING TO FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS

A goal of the bill was to allow for the media and the public to determine whether members might have potential conflicts of interest when businesses they are involved with come before the board or commission they serve on.

His reasons seem like bunkum to me. Gov. Abercrombie says requiring more financial disclosures to be made public could discourage applicants for boards and commissions.

The boards and commissions include many of the most important in the state, including — in addition to the University of Hawaii Regents — the Public Utilities Commission, the Hawaii Community Development Authority, the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Land Use Commission.

A goal of the bill was to allow for the media and the public to determine whether members might have potential conflicts of interest when businesses they are involved with come before the board or commission they serve on.

But Abercrombie said he’s worried that efforts to force “volunteers” to disclose information about their personal lives would keep many people from serving.

He also thinks that women would be harmed by the bill should it become law.

“We hope he actually read the bill since your last interview with the governor.” — Carmille Lim, Common Cause Hawaii

“The prejudice against women, the discrimination against women in the workplace, is rampant,” he said. “It’ll be, ‘Oh, she’s married to the second cousin of the guy who’s the head of this department,’ or something like that. And someone will say it’s a conflict. Then what? Then what? I don’t think it’s a conflict.”

In Civil Beat’s May 28 interview with the governor, Abercrombie did not seem to know anything about SB 2682, even though it had been in news stories and editorials and a member of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents said he would step down if the bill became law.

http://www.civilbeat.com/2014/06/abercro...sure-bill/

Comments?

[james weatherford]

Comment: Override the veto!!

First and absolute rule of any kind of public service (volunteer board memeber, elected official, civil service employee):
you live in a fishbowl. Get used to it.

[Opihikaobob]

What concerns me is what they regulate
The Commission is responsible for regulating all chartered, franchised, certificated, and registered public utility companies that provide electricity, gas, telecommunications, private water and sewage, and motor and water carrier transportation services in the State. The Commission has statutory authority to establish and enforce applicable state statutes,

With this in mind I was thinking about Helco and the way they get all that they ask for as far as rate increases, and in general the way they do business.

As well as the atrocious quality of the drinking water we get through the county. I have been having to use the water from the available roadside outlets , and that water isn't what is was about 6 or 7 years ago. I remember going into the old Chinese restaurant next to Black Rock Cafe , and drinking a glass of water there , and it was good, and so I asked where it was from, and the reply was "county water", now the stuff is so full of different chemicals,possible even some sort of solvents, that even upon steam distillation it's still bad, and you should see the amount of residue at the bottom of the distiller.
It shouldn't taste that bad, and I notice dry skin when using it , and I never drink it any more.
The puc probably doesn't regulate what goes into our drinking water , but this seems to be an ok place to mention the fact.

[kalakoa]

Helco and the way they get all that they ask for as far as rate increases, and in general the way they do business.

Don't forget Telcom and Oceanic -- exclusive rights to offer those services, but no requirement that they actually do so.

[Anxious Messiah]

Putting a bill on the veto list is not a guarantee that it will be vetoed. It is a method to allow more time to look at the bill.

_________________________________________
Don't speak unless you can improve on the silence.

[Opihikaobob]

This morning I heard on HNPR that the Gov has backed down and won't veto the bill.
The worm sqirmed under the bright lights!

[Mendo]

Campaign season with a strong challenger in sight makes even politicians do the right thing, sometimes! Score one point for democracy. I think the current score is crony-ism/corruption - 1 million; fair play/good government, 3.

[Opihikaobob]

Since I made this post it has already come to pass that at least 18 members have excused themselves from various boards. A few days ago I heard on HNPR that Abercrombi appointed 3 interm appointments to the BLNR.
I also heard about the proposed 30 meter telscope being something that the BLNR has to sign off on for the project to begin.
Anybody want to speculate on how there appointments might effect the chances of BLNR approval or not.

ABERCROMBI on the 30 meter project:
http://www.tmt.org/news-center/state-state-and-tmt
Mauna Kea is Hawaii's gift to the world - the best place on the planet to observe the universe. It is without peer. It provides an unparalleled opportunity to advance our knowledge of our universe. Today, we celebrate 50 years of astronomy in Hawaii with 13 observatories from 11 countries and over a billion dollars in infrastructure atop Mauna Kea. One project will solidify Hawaii's position as the world's premier astronomy center - the $1.3 billion Thirty-Meter Telescope (TMT). The TMT will be the catalyst for the development of high tech and high paying jobs. TMT is partnering with the Institute for Astronomy's Akamai Workforce Initiative to train local college students for technical fields. The initiative promotes STEM initiatives relating to local robotics and science programs. TMT is also investing $1 million every year in education so our keiki can reach for the stars. Our state must support and ensure that this tremendous opportunity comes to fruition."

Indigenous Hawaiians Voice Opposition to Proposed Telescope on Sacred Mauna Kea

http://intercontinentalcry.org/indigenou...ope-23361/


Elsewhere, Kalani Flores states: “It is unfortunate when public citizens are forced to go through court proceedings when developments such as the TMT Project are systematically granted permits by the BLNR despite these projects not meeting the criteria as outlined in Hawaii State law. How can the proposed TMT Observatory that would be over 18-stories high and the tallest building on a Hawaiian Island satisfy the criteria? It can’t!” Because of this, he believes the appeal is of the utmost importance. “We must proceed ahead and be idle no more. Mauna a Wakea is still sacred,” says Flores.

The importance of Mauna Kea as a sacred place for indigenous Hawaiians remains one of the driving factors behind resistance, according to Kumu hula Paul K. Neves. Neves states: “We continue to educate Hawaii’s people and the public abroad, that Mauna Kea is not just a high-elevation place on earth, it is a most sacred of places. Our case is about the necessity of having respect for Hawaiian spirituality.”

[Anxious Messiah]

"How can the proposed TMT Observatory that would be over 18-stories high and the tallest building on a Hawaiian Island..."

There are at least 19 buildings over 30 stories tall in Hawaii. Just saying...maybe it was a typo. If not, a pretty glaring error that might call into question other statements as well.

_________________________________________
Don't speak unless you can improve on the silence.

[TomK]

Don't tell me the opponents of the TMT have made a misleading comment in an attempt to make it appear as fact? Whatever next?

http://www.darkerview.com/miscfiles/TMT-...Report.pdf

"49. Petitioners contend that a purported “subdivision” of land among the various existing observatories is evidenced by an “extensive fencing network.” Exhibit A-202 at 22. As was plain during the site visit, there is no “fencing network,” much less an “extensive” one, in the summit region of Mauna Kea."

Just one of many examples.