The Progressive PAC, made up of members of Progressive Democrats of Hawaii and Americans for Democratic Action Hawaii, recently released its list of endorsements for this election year. Of all the PAC’s endorsements, there are a handful of candidates that will receive financial assistance from the PAC.
After much examination of candidates’ position on civil unions, emergency contraception in the emergency room, job security, progressive taxation, renewable energy, education, we have targeted our support for the following candidates who are in key races.
Neil Abercrombie for Governor
Gary Hooser for Lt. Governor
Michael Golojuch for 19th State Senate District (Oust Gabbard!)
Representative Blake Oshiro in House District 33
Linda Ichiyama for House District 31
Jason Bradshaw for House District 43 (Oust K Pine!)
Cynthia Rezentes for House District 44
The Progressive PAC, to fund its donations to candidates, will be holding a fundraiser on Saturday, August 21. at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, 1730 Punahou St. from noon to 2:00pm and tickets are a suggested $60 donation. We need your help to support these candidates to ensure they win their primary races! (more…)
In 2004 I was talking to a customer who just had her house appraised for $400,000. I didn’t think the house was worth 300k, but I was just the loan officer so it didn’t matter. She had a $250k mortgage, owed about 60k in credit card debt, and was asking me if she could take another 20k to put in a pool. Although I would have made more money I wasn’t sure she should do it. I didn’t last too long in that industry.
A couple of years later I was talking to a friend who had also been in the mortgage industry and we were waiting for the bubble to burst. We talked about how we wished we could short the housing market because a decline was imminent. Today I realize most of the unique, one of a kind, amazing ideas I have are already being thought about and acted upon. This was no different.
In 2004, a couple years before my brilliant idea a man named Alec Litowitz had the same idea. Except Alec had a little more experience in the financial industry. Alec, with the help of some other Chicago financiers, created a hedge fund called Magnetar. In late 2005 the housing market was slowing down and the financial (more…)
REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT
The U.S. is in the midst of a prolonged economic crisis. Globally, we are also facing a long-term environmental crisis. In recent campaigns, there has been talk of creating “green collar” jobs and reducing our carbon footprint.
1. What steps do you think Congress should take to rebuild our economy on a more sustainable, yet economically viable basis?
As outlined in my subsequent remarks, we must eliminate from national economic policy the trickle-down theory at transferred from the Bush Administration to President Obama’s Administration in the bailout elements of the stimulus. Our policy must be recommitted to ameliorating the maldistribution of income. We must undertake tax reforms that eliminate regressive policies from taxation of the vast majority of Americans, as discussed below and on my website. Those policies will stimulate savings and investment and increase income and wealth in the middle and working classes, which is the best policy for moderating the effects of future economic variations. We must be vigilant in eliminating the type of profiteering that turned our financial sector into a free for all, instead of a reliable national partner for economic safety and stability. We the need creativity that resides there to meet the needs of broadening wealth, but we must insist that all financial instruments are regulated and protected by adequate reserves, among other things. (more…)
REGARDING ELECTIONS
Do you support comprehensive public funding of elections? Please explain why or why not?
I have always supported the comprehensive public funding of elections and voted for all past legislation as introduced by Voter Owned Hawaii during my three terms in the State House. I have indeed filed to run for Lt. Governor using the State’s existing public funding option, as weak as it currently is. I believe that the current “pay to play” system has eroded the public’s trust in government as vividly demonstrated by Hawaii having the lowest percentage of voter turnout in the nation.
Do you have any concerns as to the possibility of voter disenfranchisement related to electronic voting device failure and/or the (in)adequacy voting equipment and systems? If so, what are those concerns and what would you suggest to resolve the problem? (more…)
I have been asked about the topic of Civil Unions by my “non-political” friends over the past few years more than any other topic. Most of my friends, some of whom were too young to vote when “Hawaii already voted on this issue,” are simply incredulous that this is even a controversial issue. To most people my age (35) and younger, the thought of denying rights based on a person’s sexual orientation doesn’t make any sense.
Opponents of Civil Unions like to paint supporters as a “vocal minority.” Can we stand up and show them that we are larger and more diverse than they ever imagined? If you think that is possible, please read below. I recognize that passing HB444 (the bill that would establish Civil Unions as an option for all couples in Hawai‘i) this year a long-shot, but this sort of effort can help build toward future successes as well.
Text of request below and press release here.
(more…)
REGARDING ELECTIONS
Do you support comprehensive public funding of elections? Please explain why or why not?
Yes, I am a strong supporter of public financing for elections. I made it a priority when I was a member of the State house, and I believe it is a reform what will make other reforms possible, especially in light of the recent SCOTUS decision.
Do you have any concerns as to the possibility of voter disenfranchisement related to electric voting device failure and/or the (in)adequacy voting equipment and systems? If so, what are those concerns and what would you suggest to resolve the problem? (more…)
REGARDING ELECTIONS
Do you support comprehensive public funding of elections? Please explain why or why not?
We have passed legislation to allow the Hawaii County Council to pilot the public funding effort. Let’s see how that works out. I am open to further discussion once we see how well that effort turns out. (more…)
REGARDING ELECTIONS
Do you support comprehensive public funding of elections? Please explain why or why not?
Yes, I strongly support comprehensive public funding of elections. In fact, I have already confirmed my participation in Hawaii’s public funding for my 2010 Lieutenant Governor campaign. I support public funding because the influence of special interest and “big money” has corrupted the political process and barred the entrance of new candidates into public office. (more…)
Because I am co-hosting a coffee get together at Starbucks Coffee Shop on Ward and Auahi Street this Sunday, April 11th at 5:30 PM for OFA (Organizing For America), I decided to contact the candidates with some important and relevant questions regarding issues which might likely be issues that a member of Congress would need to vote on. I asked a total of seven questions. The same seven questions were emailed to both the Case Campaign and the Hanabusa Campaign. I followed up with a phone call to each campaign headquarters when my emailed questions went for two days without a response. Spokesperson for Ms. Hanabusa (Eric Hamakawa) and spokesperson for Ed Case (Jim Nakatani) both promised they would ask their respective candidates these questions and send me a reply. These replies below are from the candidates themselves, in their own words.
First, here is a copy and paste of Colleen Hanabusa’s answers
1. Should people be required by law to purchase health insurance?
Yes – Let’s put it this way, if a person doesn’t have health insurance and suffers from a catastrophic injury or illness, who do you think pays for those costs if that person can’t afford to pay? The answer is every single one of us, regardless of whether we have our own personal health insurance or not. Uncompensated health care costs are currently being spread out among all paying health care customers in the form of increased service and prescription costs. If a person purchases health care insurance, they’re not only helping themselves, they’re helping everyone else as well. (more…)
Thursday, April 8, 2010
House Committee on Judiciary
In Support of House Concurrent Resolution 282
TO: House Committee on Judiciary
Chair Karamatsu, Vice-Chair Ito
FROM: Progressive Democrats of Hawai‘i
Co-Chair Josh Frost
Aloha Chair Karamatsu, Vice-Chair Ito, and Committee Members,
I am here, testifying before you today, on behalf of the Progressive Democrats of Hawai‘i (PDH) in support of HCR 282. (more…)
