HawaiiConCon Feed Informer http://feed.informer.com/images/fd.gif http://feed.informer.com/ http://app.feed.informer.com/digest3/IRRBCNLGMZ.html Respective post owners and feed distributors http://feed.informer.com/ Now that the convening of a Constitutional Convention will not transpire for at least another decade, it is time for the state Legislature to do its work and prove to us the right decision was made. In my position as the Ewa Neighborhood Board’s Legislative Committee chairman, our committee examined a method to resolve our transportation dilemma within our own backyard and the conclusion was that the solution required that the state’s Constitution be amended. As it stands, the Constitution prohibits private land developers from being in receipt of Special Purpose Revenue Bonds. http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?8b95aab9-2066-454b-8cc6-68f428a842cc del.icio.us/peterkay/concon http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?8b95aab9-2066-454b-8cc6-68f428a842cc? Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:18 GMT The Hawai'i Alliance, a group of labor, environmental and business interests opposed to a state Constitutional Convention, received large contributions from the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Hawai'i Government Employees Association in the last days before Tuesday's vote. OHA and the HGEA Ballot Committee each gave the group $100,000, campaign-finance records show, part of $247,000 in last-minute donations from public workers, hotel, teachers' and firefighters' unions. http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20081108/NEWS01/811080347/1001/localnewsfront del.icio.us/peterkay/concon http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20081108/NEWS01/811080347/1001/localnewsfront? Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:39 GMT A constitutional convention could have facilitated debate on, among other issues, whether we should decentralize the public education system, update Hawaii’s energy policies, legalize recall, initiative and referendum on a statewide level, institute term limits for legislators and judges, elect our attorney general, or better balance our criminal justice system so it treats victims equally with the accused criminals. http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?509ed966-02e3-494f-89fe-a200bae50596 del.icio.us/peterkay/concon http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?509ed966-02e3-494f-89fe-a200bae50596? Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:58 GMT Pauahi Ioane, a 47-year-old city bus driver, voted to call for a Constitutional Convention in 2010 to improve life in Hawai'i. "It could be for the better," Ioane said. "There's some things that could be improved." But Rod Frias, a 35-year-old construction worker, believes the so-called "ConCon" would cost too much money at a time when the city is looking to make drastic budget cuts. http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20081104/BREAKING01/81104102/-1/localnewsfront del.icio.us/peterkay/concon http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20081104/BREAKING01/81104102/-1/localnewsfront? Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:53 GMT Hawaii voters may have embraced change touted by President-elect Barack Obama, but they weren't comfortable with changing the state Constitution. A proposal to convene a Constitutional Convention was rejected nearly 2-to-1 Tuesday. Supporters said a convention could address issues elected lawmakers won't tackle, such as education and health care reform, local control and term limits. http://www.kpua.net/news.php?id=16329 del.icio.us/peterkay/concon http://www.kpua.net/news.php?id=16329? Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:51 GMT Voters throughout Hawaii said no to holding a Constitutional Convention. Nearly 62 percent of voters shut down the proposed convention, according to the Office of Elections. The question is put to voters every 10 years. The last convention was held in 1978. Those opposed to the convention had said it would cost too much money -- as much as $40 million. Meanwhile, the state is looking to cut spending. Supporters of the convention said it would have been used to restructure the Hawaii public school system and reform campaign finance laws. They said a convention would cost less, around $7 million to $10 million. http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2008/11/03/daily27.html del.icio.us/peterkay/concon http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2008/11/03/daily27.html? Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:50 GMT Some people just don't like the idea of the Hawaii state Constitution being tinkered with. But Con Con really isn't a scary thing. It's just a chance to put the state Constitution up on the rack and inspect its underbelly for signs of wear and tear. Think of it as a constitutional safety check. But whereas our cars have to have a safety check once a year, the Constitution hasn't had a safety check since 1978. Think about it. At the last Con Con, people didn't even have cell phones. http://www.starbulletin.com/columnists/honolululite/20081102_honolulu_lite.html del.icio.us/peterkay/concon http://www.starbulletin.com/columnists/honolululite/20081102_honolulu_lite.html? Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:29 GMT The Hawai'i Government Employees Association has given $200,000 to the Hawai'i Alliance, a group opposing a state Constitutional Convention, to help pay for an advertising campaign leading up to next Tuesday's vote. The HGEA Ballot Committee made the contribution this month and, while the Hawai'i Alliance has yet to file its most recent campaign finance report, activists say the donation is the largest to the group since the September primary. http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20081029/NEWS05/810290373/1001 del.icio.us/peterkay/concon http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20081029/NEWS05/810290373/1001? Wed, 29 Oct 2008 02:18 GMT Voters get a once-in-a-decade chance in November to call for a Constitutional Convention, a right the framers of the state constitution felt was reasonable to provide a workable means of amending the state's governing document. Their solution: The Legislature could place amendments before voters or call for a Constitutional Convention. But if the Legislature did not call for a convention within a decade, the lieutenant governor would have the authority to put the question before voters. http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20081012/NEWS05/810120330/-1/NEWS05 del.icio.us/peterkay/concon http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20081012/NEWS05/810120330/-1/NEWS05? Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:02 GMT Education is likely to be on the top of the agenda if the state were to convene a Constitutional Convention, but opponents warn that potential changes such as local school boards or dismantling of the state Department of Education could have adverse consequences on student achievement and equal access to education. http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20081027/NEWS05/810270335/-1/NEWS05 del.icio.us/peterkay/concon http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20081027/NEWS05/810270335/-1/NEWS05? Mon, 27 Oct 2008 01:51 GMT To analyze local political events recently, use the "follow the money and power" system. For example, the mayor gains power and campaign money if he wins. But he loses no personal wealth if he's unsuccessful. He even gets to keep campaign donations if he's not re-elected! http://www.starbulletin.com/editorials/20081027_letters_to_the_editor.html del.icio.us/peterkay/concon http://www.starbulletin.com/editorials/20081027_letters_to_the_editor.html? Mon, 27 Oct 2008 01:51 GMT Presidential candidate Barack Obama might be running on change, but some residents of his home state do not want to shake up things too much. "In this season where 'change' is the byword, it's ironic that those against a constitutional convention stand squarely against the possibility of change in our government." Mark Spengler Of the group It's Time Hawaii, on the anti-ConCon campaign A ballot proposal for a constitutional convention in Hawaii is raising fears it could have unexpected results, perhaps weakening unions or reducing the country's only recognition of native Hawaiian rights, and that its multimillion-dollar cost would come at the expense of other public programs in a tough economic time. http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20081027_foes_of_concon_fear_horse_trading.html del.icio.us/peterkay/concon http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20081027_foes_of_concon_fear_horse_trading.html? Mon, 27 Oct 2008 01:50 GMT Presidential candidate Barack Obama may be running on change but some residents of his home state don't want to shake up things too much. A ballot proposal to call a constitutional convention in Hawaii is raising fears it could have unexpected results, perhaps weakening unions or reducing the country's only recognition of Native Hawaiian rights, and that its multimillion-dollar cost would come at the expense of other public programs in a tough economic time. Hawaii is one of three states proposing a constitutional convention this election year. In Connecticut, opponents of gay marriage hope a convention will help override a state Supreme Court decision allowing same-sex couples to wed. Illinois voters are pushing for a convention to address ethics http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h80yIZXTa_FxYiUgF6XhRcQxu3hAD941MNK00 del.icio.us/peterkay/concon http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h80yIZXTa_FxYiUgF6XhRcQxu3hAD941MNK00? Sun, 26 Oct 2008 11:11 GMT This November 4 election, Hawaii voters must decide whether to support a Constitutional Convention or a "Con Con." Even if they leave their ballot blank, they will have a say in the issue, because a Supreme Court ruling determined “blank” votes are “no” votes (a whole other issue that could be taken up in a Con Con). Hawaii’s has not had a “Con Con” for 30 years since 1978, but powerful forces are already trying to kill the chance by lobbying and advertising fiercely against it. Rep. Della Au Bellati, D-Makiki, supporter of the Con Con, says opponents are using “fear mongering” to scare voters into opposing the chance to debate the most important issues facing our state. http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?7bf3afc1-eb44-4708-83c7-642d0343e100 del.icio.us/peterkay/concon http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?7bf3afc1-eb44-4708-83c7-642d0343e100? Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:16 GMT Following Thursday's mayoral debate at Kealakehe High School, moderator Sherry Bracken welcomed Mark Spengler of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce and Kealakehe Elementary School fourth-grade teacher and Hawai`i State Teachers Association member Diane Aoki to voice their pro and con opinions regarding the review of issues at the Constitutional Convention, known as Con-Con. http://www.bigislandweekly.com/articles/2008/10/22/read/news/news04.txt del.icio.us/peterkay/concon http://www.bigislandweekly.com/articles/2008/10/22/read/news/news04.txt? Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:55 GMT