July 2009

THE 2009 WINNERS! Contest ends with over 100 money saving ideas generated to help DOE trim its budget. (more)

DOE Trim the Fat Contest: Finalist ideas 2009 The 2009 DOE Trim the Fat contest saw hundreds of ideas here are some of the highlighted entries.

Inouye Gets Bailout Funds For His Troubled Bank

Rooted in Liberty

July 01, 2009

It turns out Central Pacific Financial, which was not originally slated to receive any bailout funds, is now standing to receive $135 million from the Treasury. Senator Inouye reported ownership of shares worth $350,000 to $700,000 at the end of 2007. (more)

Links

Rooted in Liberty

July 02, 2009

Government Paychecks: Bush vs. Obama

by Pearl Hahn

I am of the opinion that the paychecks of elected officials and all public servants (otherwise known as government workers, whether at the city, state, or federal level) should be kept low to ensure that people who enter the public sector are truly motivated by a desire to serve others. (more)

Transparency

June 2009

A Time for Transparency

Why Hawaii Needs a New Transparency Web Site ASAP

by Jamie Story

The Grassroot Institute believes it is past time for the state to allow those who pay the bills to see the checkbook. We call on all state and local government agencies to voluntarily make this information available to the public—now! (more)

Commentaries

June 2009

State Forced Land Sales

The Power of Eminent Domain to Redistribute Land Ownership

By J. Arthur Rath

The recent news has been filled with the term 'redistribution of wealth', but in Hawaii and elsewhere the power of the state to confiscate private property under the guise of economic development has never been more popular. The recent Supreme Court case Kelo v. City of New London in 2005 involving the use of eminent domain to transfer land from one private owner to another to further economic development is one example. In a 5-4 decision the Court held the state using eminent domain to redistribute property for redevelopment was permissible "public use" under the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment because the community derived "economic benefits". (more)

Commentaries

May 2009

A Culture of Indifference?

The DOE Deserves No New Funding

By Ben Farkash

The Honolulu Advertiser recently reported that the Hawaii Department of Education (DOE) may receive federal stimulus monies after all. Governor Lingle has previously said she planned to use those funds to balance looming budget deficits, in lieu of less appealing options such as raising taxes. Education is rightly one of the highest priorities of modern society. (more)

Research

June 2009

Hawaii’s Prepaid Health Care Act and its Far-Reaching Costs

New Policy Brief Explains Hawaii's Health Coverage Monopoly

The Grassroot Institute

New GRIH study 'Hawaii’s Prepaid Health Care Act and Far-Reaching Costs' explores devastating effects on employment and the rate of covered residents in the state that government health plans can have. (more)

Hawaii’s Prepaid Health Care Act and Far-Reaching Costs The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii has released a new study, Hawaii’s Prepaid Health Care Act and Far-Reaching Costs, by Policy Analyst Pearl Hahn.