Research
June 2010
National Battle Rages Over Jones Act Exemption in BP Oil Spill - and Hawaii's Congressional Delegation is in the Fray
Part three in a series
A national battle is raging over whether foreign crews on foreign vessels with the latest technology will be permitted to help in the BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. (more)
Research
March 2010
Businesses Hit Hard by Costly Jones Act Regulations
Part 2 in a series
Big Island small business owner Jim O'Keefe found out the hard way that his American dream, owning his own business, was too difficult to maintain in Hawaii. He closed down his 13-year-old extensive bakery wholesale and retail operation, O’Keefe & Sons Bread Bakers, in 2008 because it was too costly to maintain. (more)
July 2010
2010 Legislative Score Card
Did Your Legislator Pass the Freedom Test?
This year, Hawaii state legislators were put to the financial test. With a record state shortfall, the legislature came up with all types of creative solutions.
One was to raise taxes, which the House and Senate approved in more than a dozen different votes. Another “solution” was to raid almost every special fund and use the money to fill the depleted general fund. Unfortunately, spending cuts were not high on the list.
After the link, each legislator has been scored based on his or her performance in the 2010 legislative session. Scores indicate the percentage of votes in which legislators voted in favor of limited government and greater individual liberty. While a few legislators seized the shortfall as an opportunity to make tough spending decisions, the vast majority voted to continue for the status quo—excessive spending and even higher taxes for the people of Hawaii.
(more)
July 2009
2009 Hawaii Legislative Scorecard
Did Your Legislator Pass the Freedom Test?
Which Hawaii state legislators toed the party line this session? Who opted for some of the largest tax increases in state history? Who voted in favor of big government and against small businesses? These answers and more can be found in the second annual Hawaii Legislative Scorecard, just released by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. The new report ranks state legislators based on their commitment to upholding freedom and liberty during the 2009 legislative session. (more)
August 2010
Exposing Hawaii’s Special Funds: Excess Balances of $1.4 Billion Raid Hawaii’s Taxpayers
In the last three years, nearly all fifty states saw government budgets operating in the red as a result of the global economic crisis. The fallout of the meltdown gained considerable notoriety in Hawaii as the determination was made to compensate for the revenue shortfall in part by implementing a temporary furlough of Department of Education personnel. The Hawaii State Legislature, faced with mounting public opposition to “Furlough Fridays” and insufficient revenues to maintain current levels of spending, considered a variety of funding mechanisms, one of which included the use of raiding funds designated on state budget worksheets as “B” means of financing (MOFs), or “special funds,” as it was believed that a number of these accounts were either in excess of their operational requirements or funded mandates which had sunset. (more)
March 2010
2010 Pork Report!
Co-authored by Hideo Hikida, Frances Nuar, and Jamie Story, the second annual 2010 Hawaii Pork Report reveals more than $300 million in waste, abuse, and mismanagement of taxpayer dollars. Click on to see the full report and press release (more)
October 2009
A Time for Transparency
Why Hawaii Needs a New Transparency Web Site ASAP
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)
July 2009
House Lagging on Public Posting of Expenses
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered the House Chief Administrative Officer earlier this year to post expenses of House members online as soon as possible. Yet, the deadline for doing so has passed (three months and counting). Presently, there is no plan in place for the Senate to follow suit. Part of the hold-up is coming from the Committee on House Administration, which claims that security and support issues are delaying publication of the expenses. (more)
July 2009
Honolulu Spending On Contracts
It takes a lot of work to run a city. In addition to various programs, officials must maintain sidewalks and roads, traffic lights, security, among other services. The State Procurement Office (SPO), which serves as the central authority on procurement statues and rules for all government bodies of the state, is the central source on all matters of procurement policy. The website is regularly updated with awards, bids, vendors, proposals, and more. (more)
July 2009
The Facts Behind the Tax
Raising taxes on the tourism industry has forced several hotels to absorb hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses because it is too late to change rates already quoted to booked guests. (Check out the Advertiser's "Impact of Raising Hotel Tax"). (more)
Blogs
Rooted in Reason
Grassroot Institute's Official Blog
The Mystery of Hawaiian History
Correcting historical revisionism and misconceptions promoted by the Akaka Bill.
Hawaii Spendometer
How Fast Does The State Government Spend Your Money?
$9,122,166,121.47
