Cory Lum/Civil Beat
Hawaii Speaker: Lottery Bill A ‘Distinct Possibility’
Other key issues for the Legislature include housing, homelessness, fiscal accountability, education, oversight, sustainability and family care.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat
Thatched Huts Aside, Homelessness And Housing Top Legislative Agenda
Fiscal accountability is also a major concern for majority Democrats and minority Republicans as the opening of their 2016 session nears.
Olelo Community Media
Coming Soon: Video On Demand From The Hawaii Capitol
The Hawaii State Public Access Network — HSPAN — could make it easier to track what’s going on in the Legislature.
Chad Blair/Ciivl Beat
Increase In Hawaii Revenue Forecast ‘Doesn’t Really Amount To That Much’
The expected increase amounts to about $40 million more for the state budget, not enough to assuage the concerns of the Legislature’s budget chairs.
Cory Lum/Civil beat
House Finance Chair To Hawaii Budget Director: Don’t Waste Our Time
Wes Machida, the state finance chief, shoulders criticism from lawmakers for not being more forthcoming during a budget briefing.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat
Should Counties Get Bigger Share Of Hotel Tax Revenue?
A legislative working group report proposes eliminating the cap the state placed on how much money counties get.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat
Will Ambitious Teachers Union Plan Fly? Unlikely, But It Starts The Conversation
AÂ tax increase is almost certainly a non-starter at the Legislature, but the call for education reform from new union leaders will at least focus attention on the issues.
Flickr: Diana Robinson
Hawaii’s Ivory Market Could Soon Be Largest In U.S.
The Humane Society of the United States is pushing the Aloha State to ban the sale of ivory in an effort to curb the demand for elephant tusks.