Author: koolaupoko

  • Bill Tracking as of 24 February 2013

    Bill Tracking as of 24 February 2013.  Bills needing action are in bold. Click here to see tracking document.

  • Call to ACTION – HB1330 DOCARE funding

    Our near shore fishery is in trouble. Today, these same resources are estimated to contribute $800 million in annual revenue to the state, with an added recreational, amenity, fishery, biodiversity, and educational value of $364 million per year.

    The Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) is the only agency focused on enforcing laws that protect our natural and cultural resources. Everyone know DOCARE is woefully underfunded. 

    Given this broad scope of responsibility, and the large amount and variety of equipment, training, and manpower needed to effectively carry out DOCARE’s mission, it is clear that DOCARE has been critically underfunded for many years.[4] A review of budget worksheets from the last ten years indicates past legislative appropriations for DOCARE have ranged from $6 to $8 million dollars annually; by contrast, the Honolulu Police Department – tasked with enforcing state and county laws in Honolulu county only, and primarily in developed or municipal areas – reported a budget of $224 million in 2010 alone.[5] Clearly, much greater investment is necessary to ensure that DOCARE has the resources to ensure that the laws protecting our natural and cultural resources have actual teeth, and to relieve mounting community concerns regarding the lack of support for DOCARE’s important mission.

    By restoring lost funding to DOCARE, this bill therefore provides a small but critical step in the right direction for investing in the conservation and protection of the resources that the Native Hawaiian community and the larger public rely upon.

    To submit testimony on HB1330 Click Here 

  • Action Alert – HB1080

    The House Finance Committee is considering whether or not to hear HB1080 which provides for Complete Streets mitigation.  Tell FIN we need safe streets. FIN has till 2/27 to schedule a hearing.

  • Support SB620

    SB620 requires restaurants offer an alternative to styrofoam doggie bags.  Styrofoam kills people and wildlife.  It is particularly dangerous in food containers.  Styrene leaches from the foam and is highly cancerogenic as well as causing estrogen problems.

    Check here for more information

  • PLDC important update

    For those of you who are not yet aware the Public Land Development Corporation is an agency mandated to maximize economic development projects on State Land.  Their projects are exempt from any permitting or zoning regulations.  This is among the worst legislation ever passed by the State.

    Senator Thielen just announced that SB707 will be amended to make it a clean repeal bill.  We need to support this legislation provided promises are kept.

    To see Senator Thielenʻs announcement click here

    This is a powerful change in Senate attitude from blocking repeal to supporting it.  Thank you Senator Thielen for you hard work and negotiating skills.

  • Status of Natural Resources Bill as of 2/11/13

    Status of bills we are tracking as of 2/11/13 is available by clicking here.

    We have members actively advocating for the repeal of the PLDC and will ask members to subit testimony on those bills.

    Members who want to help advocate for legislation should pick an issue that interests them and advocate for and against bills addressing that issue.  Advocacy will involve tracking legislation, writing testimony, building a constituency of support and giving testimony.  If you need help to learn how to effectively use available tools contact Bill Sager at 808-258-4019 or bsager42@gmail.com.

  • SB620 last surviving styrofoam bill

    This is the last surviving styrofoam reduction bill in the legislature.  Does anyone want to advocate for this bill.

    Styrofoam has been identified a serious threat to all life in the sea.  It mimick food use by marine life and kills marine life and sea birds.

    This bill is currently scheduled for hearing on 2/10 and must pass out of committee to survive.  This could be a very short commitment.  If you need help to advocate contact Bill at 258-4019 for some quick training in tracking and testifying.

    Controlling styrofoam is high on the Caucus priority list.  How high will be determined by how many members choose to support this bill.

  • Testimony needed bills supporting invasive species control and watershed management

    This announcement is posted courtesy of The Nature Conservancy.  It is not a position of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, but is one of the highest priorities of the Environmental Caucus

    Please submit testimony in support of bills to be heard on Monday that will fund the DLNR’s watershed protection and invasive species control initiatives:

    1.    HB 935 Re Conveyance Tax.  This Administration supported bill proposes to increase conveyance tax rates on properties ≥$2M to fund watershed protection and invasive species control.  Here are the particulars for Monday’s hearing:

    ü  Bill text/status: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=935

    ü  Hearing notice: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2013/hearingnotices/HEARING_HSG_02-11-13_.HTM

    ü  Submit testimony: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/submittestimony.aspx

    2.    HB 357 Bag Fee. This Administration supported bill would place a 10¢ fee on single-use paper and plastic bags with 80% of the revenue going to the DLNR for watersheds and invasives.  The CPC hearing notice is not posted yet, but I will send that as soon as it is.

    Talking Points:

     

    ·         The Rain Follows the Forest initiative is working to ensure fresh water is available for the people of Hawai‘i in perpetuity by protecting our watershed forests, a central goal of A New Day in Hawai‘i plan.

    ·         Healthy forests that are not overrun by invasive species efficiently capture and deliver fresh water into streams and aquifers for our use.

    ·         By pulling moisture from passing clouds, forests can actually increase water capture up to 50% more than through rainfall alone.

    ·         When forests are lost or degraded, Hawai‘i loses its source of fresh water.

    ·         More than half of Hawaii’s forests have been lost.  Historically, the threat was overharvesting and development.  Today’s threat is invasive plants and animals.

    ·         The longer we wait to take significant action, the higher the cost will be to reverse the damage, thereby threatening water supplies for future generations.

    ·         Forests also help mitigate erosion and runoff into our precious streams and coastlines.

    ·         Healthy forests will become even more critical as we experience the likely effects of climate change, including more severe storms but overall less rainfall, and temperature changes that may benefit invasive pests.

    ·         The conveyance tax bill would support this watershed protection through essential forest management programs, invasive species control, land acquisition, and other conservation programs.

    ·         The development and sale of real estate helps drive Hawaii’s economy, but it also puts pressure on our natural resources.  It makes sense to spend a portion of conveyance tax revenue on protecting those natural resources.

    ·         In recent years, enormous amounts have been invested in the development and sale of real estate, and continued investment in development and construction is helping to lift our economy out of recession.  Yet, we make a comparatively tiny investment in protecting the natural resources that also drive our economy and provide benefits that allow us to survive in the middle of the vast Pacific.

  • PLDC Leg Tracking as of 2/8/13

    Senator Solomon refused to hear any of the PLDC bills assigned to her Water, Land and Housing Committee.  If she does the same when the House legislation crosses over the issue of the Public Land Development Corporation will be dead.  It is a tragedy when our right to discuss a critical public issue can be stopped by one legislator.

    This is the status of the PLDC bills at this time. All Senate Bills are dead.  The House PLDC Bills will be heard tomorrow (Saturday) at 9AM in the Capitol Auditorium.  See the legislative details by clicking here.

    Come and let you legislators know you think Act 55 must be repealed.

     

  • Repeal Act 55

    The following post represents the position of the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party and is not an official position of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

    The House of Representatives is hearing a number of bills about the Public Lands Development Corporation tomorrow (Saturday). You can submit testimony simply by sending in an email (if this link doesn’t work, the email addresses are below). Suggested talking points are also below. Please include your name, the bill number you are supporting/opposing, and the date/time (Saturday, February 8, 9:00 a.m.).

    I’m supporting HB 1133 and HB 589 as the two bills that would repeal the PLDC. I’m also opposing HB 942, HB 219, HB 593, and HB 1134 because they don’t repeal the PLDC.

    But if you want to have a lot of fun, please join us in appearing in person. We’ll be at the State Capitol in the auditorium (located on the very bottom floor, near the parking area). Politicians are easily influenced by large groups of people. Let’s have a party together and make sure our voices are heard!

    Environmental Caucus testimony follows:

    Act 55 creates the Public Land Development Corp.(PLDC). The PLDC is mandated to maximize the dollar return from public lands.  Their mission is to enter into public/private partnerships to maximize the economic return from public lands.  Their focus is on tourist development.

    So far so good.  Public/Private partnership have many benefits. But Act 55 his deeply flawed and must be repealed.

    1. Act 55 exempts the PLDC from all permitting requirements including county zoning laws and building permits.  There is no reason government projects should be exempted from our laws designed to make sure all projects are will planned and designed.

    2. Act 55 exempts the PLDC from the government procurement process.  This opens the door to fraud and corruption. 

    3. Act 55 gives DLNR two Boards of Directors.  The PLDC can initiate projects which ignore the BLNR land use management plans.  The PLDC can do whatever it wants on public lands without significant citizen over site and without any consideration of existing management plans.

    4. The Board of the PLDC is made up of 5 individuals whose expertise is in land development.  There are no land managers of cultural practitioners on their board.  Absolute control over all public land is tremendous power to give five people.

    5. The PLDC has the authority to define the adjoining land owners who benefit from their development and assess their property for the cost of development infrastructure.  This places the infrastructure development costs on property owners rather on than on the developers.

    There is much more wrong with Act 55 but I donʻt want to write a book.  Act 55 must be repealed and we must start over with proper safeguards and with public participation in the discussion.  You know that the legislation resulting in Act 55 was amended at the last minute and even most legislators didnʻt realize the changes when they voted.

    Supporters of Act 55 say the weaknesses in the Act can be correct in rule making.  As legislators you understand that legislation provides the legal framework that guides Government.  Rules are immaterial when the enabling legislation is flawed.

    Act 55 is deeply flawed and must be repealed.  However, while the community focuses on the PLDC the Administration has introduce legislation to create the HLDC.  The HLDC as proposed will be the PLDC on steroids.

    Watch all proposals to eliminate permitting requirements from public project.  The Governorʻs efforts to expedite his projects without permitting “interference” must be stopped.

    You can submit email testimony here:

    WALtestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov

    EDNtestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov

    FINtestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov

    For more information about the Public Lands Development Corporation, please see GrandTheftAina.com.