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Accountability

Bill 22 (2023): Mandatory public hearings for assessment hikes could fend off ‘marginal’ spending

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu City and County Council on April 19, 2023. _____________ April 19, 2023 10 a.m. Honolulu City Council Chambers To: Honolulu City and County Council       Councilmember Tommy Waters, Chair       Councilmember Esther Kiaʻāina, Vice

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SB1522 SD2 HD1: Rhetorical facelift won’t fix HTA problems

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the House Committee on Finance on April 5, 2023. _____________ April 5, 2023 2 p.m. Conference Room 308 and via videoconference  To: House Committee on Finance       Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita, Chair       Rep. Lisa Kitagawa, Vice Chair

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HB522 HD1: Protect electronic communication even in crises

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Senate Committee on Judiciary on April 5, 2023. _____________ April 5, 2023 9:45 a.m. VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE Conference Room 016  To: Senate Committee on Judiciary       Sen. Karl Rhoads,  Chair       Sen. Mike Gabbard, Vice Chair From: Grassroot

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HB719 HD1 SD1: Don’t ruin good bill with transparency exception

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Senate Committee on Ways & Means and the Senate Committee on Judiciary on April 6, 2023. _____________ April 6, 2023 10:45 a.m. VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE Conference Room 211  To: Senate Committee on Ways and Means  

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Hill optimistic about public records bills, ‘but you never really know’

Imagine being asked to pony up nearly $350,000 to get access to public communications between the governor’s office and state agencies. That happened to the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii when it requested records related to the COVID-19 pandemic from then-Gov. David Ige’s office, according to Institute Policy Director Malia Hill,

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Corruption or incompetence, transparency still the antidote

Authorities on good government will point out that corruption isn’t the only explanation for our frustration with local and state governance. Sometimes, the problems we see can be chalked up to inefficiency or incompetence. But no matter what the issue, the antidote is the same: transparency. That was the point

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SB991: Cap on fees for public records would promote transparency

The following testimony was presented Feb. 9, 2023, by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii to the Senate Committee on Government Operations. ___________ February 9, 2023 3 p.m. VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE Conference Room 225 To: Senate Committee on Government Operations        Sen. Angus L.K. McKelvey, Chair        Sen.

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Bill 22 (2023): Mandatory public hearings for assessment hikes could fend off ‘marginal’ spending

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu City and County Council on April 19, 2023. _____________ April 19, 2023 10 a.m. Honolulu City Council Chambers To: Honolulu City and County Council       Councilmember Tommy Waters, Chair       Councilmember Esther Kiaʻāina, Vice

Read More →

SB1522 SD2 HD1: Rhetorical facelift won’t fix HTA problems

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the House Committee on Finance on April 5, 2023. _____________ April 5, 2023 2 p.m. Conference Room 308 and via videoconference  To: House Committee on Finance       Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita, Chair       Rep. Lisa Kitagawa, Vice Chair

Read More →

HB522 HD1: Protect electronic communication even in crises

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Senate Committee on Judiciary on April 5, 2023. _____________ April 5, 2023 9:45 a.m. VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE Conference Room 016  To: Senate Committee on Judiciary       Sen. Karl Rhoads,  Chair       Sen. Mike Gabbard, Vice Chair From: Grassroot

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HB719 HD1 SD1: Don’t ruin good bill with transparency exception

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Senate Committee on Ways & Means and the Senate Committee on Judiciary on April 6, 2023. _____________ April 6, 2023 10:45 a.m. VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE Conference Room 211  To: Senate Committee on Ways and Means  

Read More →

Hill optimistic about public records bills, ‘but you never really know’

Imagine being asked to pony up nearly $350,000 to get access to public communications between the governor’s office and state agencies. That happened to the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii when it requested records related to the COVID-19 pandemic from then-Gov. David Ige’s office, according to Institute Policy Director Malia Hill,

Read More →

Corruption or incompetence, transparency still the antidote

Authorities on good government will point out that corruption isn’t the only explanation for our frustration with local and state governance. Sometimes, the problems we see can be chalked up to inefficiency or incompetence. But no matter what the issue, the antidote is the same: transparency. That was the point

Read More →

SB991: Cap on fees for public records would promote transparency

The following testimony was presented Feb. 9, 2023, by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii to the Senate Committee on Government Operations. ___________ February 9, 2023 3 p.m. VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE Conference Room 225 To: Senate Committee on Government Operations        Sen. Angus L.K. McKelvey, Chair        Sen.

Read More →