SB1171, which would allow construction projects to go forward without full surveys

For information only.  Not a policy of the Democratic Party.

You may be interested in this rally that the Hawaiian community is planning to oppose SB1171, which would allow construction projects to go forward without full surveys (such as the approach used for the H-3 project).  Tuesday April 30, 8:30-12:30, wear red.

Here is a summary of concerns regarding SB1171, the bill that they are trying to pass on Tuesday. The community needs to flip 5 senators to kill the bill:  http://www.oiwi.tv/channels/news/voice-concerns-sb117/

Testimony needed – HB903 to reduce non-point source pollution

HB 903 is a dramatic improvement to the state’s polluted runoff .  Click here for details.

Testimony needed

Repeal PLDC.  Sen Solomon is playing political games again.  Tell her to pass a clean bill.  Click here for details.

Support Watershed Management and Invasive Spp control. Click here for details.

Testimony needed PLDC Dirty Dozen Bills to be heard tomorrow in WAM

Submit your Comments to WAM today.  For more information click here.

Senate proposing rider to override Court decisions on GMO Crops

The biotech industry has quietly inserted a dangerous policy rider into the Continuing Resolution (CR) now being debated on the Senate floor.This dangerous rider was not included in the House-passed CR, and we are extremely disappointed to see that the Senate has included it. Though wrapped in a “farmer-friendly” package, this Monsanto-driven rider is simply a biotech industry ploy to continue to plant GE crops even when a court of law has found they were approved illegally.

Click here to petition the Senate to oppose this rider.

ACTION ALERT – Testimony needed – PLDC is back

This is not a position of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.  It is information provided by Hawaii Thousand Friends.   Thanks to Hawaii Thousand Friends we have the following information:Next Tuesday 3/5, the entire Senate will vote on THREE bad bills.Including SB 215 SD2, a PLDC look-alike.  Send opposition testimony on these bad bills to all senators or contact your senator here:    Senators by Island    See article on PLDC-like SB 215:        “New Development Authority Moves a Step Closer to Reality”   SB 215 SD2 Relating to Economic Development (Dela Cruz, Chun Oakland, Kidani, Solomon) creates the Public-Private Partnership Authority. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2013/bills/SB215_SD2_.pdf Sound like PLDC? Let us count the ways: PLDC and SB 215 SD2 purposes are to “create a vehicle and process to use public land…for the economic, environmental, and social benefit of the people of Hawaii.” Like PLDC, under SB 215 SD2 the public-private partnership administers appropriate and culturally sensitive projects. Like PLDC, under SB 215 SD2 the “authority shall coordinate and administer projects while ensuring that resources are maintained for the people of Hawaii.” Like PLDC, SB 215 SD2 has a board of directors but only 5 voting members: 3 heads of state departments, 1 member appointed by the Senate president, 1 member appointed by the speaker of the House and 1 non-voting member from the aha moku advisory committee. Like PLDC, SB 215 SD2 dictates that House and Senate members shall “have expertise in small and large businesses within the development or recreation industries, banking, real estate, finance, promotion, marketing or management.” SB 215 SD2 allows the counties to waive zoning, land use, and permitting requirementson any project by passing an ordinance or memorandum of agreement. SB 215 SD2 has no process for public hearings or public involvement on the projects, other than the rule-making process. SB 215 SD2 shall initiate 3 pilot projects: 1) a film production facility on state landssomewhere on Maui, location not specified; 2) 1 unknown county-initiated project; and 3) a mysterious main-street project on previously identified state lands in Wahiawa that currently contain a DOE building, a library, Wahiawa Clinic and a transit center. Could these public lands be slated for a Transit Oriented Development project? SB 215 SD2 allows for additional projects for educational purposes or to stimulate development and job creation.

SB 1027 SD1 Relating to Coastal Zone Management (governor’s package)http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2013/bills/SB1027_SD1_.pdf Exemptsany development by a state agency on state land within the Special Management Area (SMA) from the counties’ Special Management Area Permit and shoreline setback variance processes.  Exempts development by a state agency on state land from having to be consistent withcounty general plans and zoning. Creates a new state consistency review process that will be conducted by the state agency proposing the project, with only a 30-day comment period. State consistency certificationis a statement by a state agency that it has completed the state consistency review and the development is consistent with SMA objectives.  Fox guarding the henhouse? State agencies are only required to respond to relevant public comments. After the State Office of Planning publishes the state consistency certification in the OEQC bulletin, development may proceed. NO  more public hearings or public involvement. NO  contested case opportunities as provided for under the county SMA process for Maui County, Kauai and Hawai`i Island residents.

SB 1171 SD1 Review of Historic Preservation Projects (governor’s package)http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2013/bills/SB1171_SD1_.pdfSB 1171 SD1is in response to the Hawai`i Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling, in Kaleikini v. Yoshioka (Honolulu’s director of transportation), that phasing of archaeological studies is not allowed under HRS Chapter 6E – Historic Preservation.  SB 1171 SD1 would allow construction of development projects to start before an inventory of all archaeological resources has been completed. When burial sites and historic properties are not identified before basic planning decisions are made, the many options that could protect those sites are effectively foreclosed. SB 1171 SD1 is all about Oahu’s rail project:  without the high court’s ruling, the `iwi kupuna would not have been discovered before the 4th and final phase of the 20-mile rail line, and then the argument could have been made that it was too late to stop the train to look for “bones.”

Bill Tracking as of 24 February 2013

Bill Tracking as of 24 February 2013.  Bills needing action are in bold. Click here to see tracking document.