Press Releases

June 2009

New Contest to Help Trim Hawaii's DOE Budget

Help Hawaii's Education System by Identifying Waste and Inefficiencies

Like the rest of the state during the current economic challenges, the Department of Education (DOE) needs to go on a diet! The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii (GRIH) and Smart Business Hawaii (SBH) announced today a new contest to help the employees of the DOE do just that by identifying ways to trim the Department’s budget and possibly remove the need for job furloughs. (more)

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Commentaries

June 2009

Thinking is Sometimes Hard

Akaka Tribe Bill Back in the News

by Richard Rowland

The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2009 (S1011/ HR2314) begins movement in the US Congress. (more)

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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)

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