How PAYCHEKS HAWAII Candidates Fared
SBH Conference on January 12
Bella Pietra’s Layla Dedrick Speaks at SBH Sunrise
Wave of Tax Hikes Next Year If Congress Doesn’t Act
Outcome of Constitutional Amendment and Honolulu City Charter Questions
State Fights Shocking Price Increases from Hawaii’s Only Statewide Daily Newspaper
Foreclosure Sales on Hold
Smart Business Views by Sam Slom
Making It Easier and More Affordable to do Business in Hawaii
I’m Tired of Hawaii Being Everyone’s Guinea Pig
Hawaii OSHA Focus: Hazards
Hawaii Reporter’s 9th Anniversary Gala
Small Business News - November 2010
Democrats Blow Business Friendly Candidates Away
Hawaii remains the bluest of blue states in the Nation (Rhode Island is # 2) and completely opposite from the Republican / Tea Party tsunami.
The November 2 election showed again that the Democrat/union machine is alive and well in Hawaii, and President Obama has more clout here than anywhere else.
Despite the record Republican gains and takeover of the U.S. House on the mainland, an increase in the U.S. Senate, numerous state houses, and state legislatures on the mainland, Democrats smashed the GOP—and business interests here.
There were more local Republican challengers than in a decade, and they were well informed, well qualified and had charisma, yet one by one they went down in the traditional local way. Former 20-year Democrat Congressman Neil Abercrombie easily (too easily) beat James Duke Aiona for Governor. Senate President Colleen Hanabusa whipped 6-month incumbent Republican Congressman Charles Djou by 10,000 votes, with a whopping 13,000 blank ballots in that premiere race. U.S. Senator Dan Inouye and Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, easily turned back their Republican business challengers for their re-election.
In the Hawaii State House, Republicans did increase a net 2, to 8 out of 51, but in the Senate, there is only one Republican — Sam Slom — out of 25.
Voter turnout, which used to be the best in the Nation at the mid-80s, wound up at about 55% this year.
Some think Hawaii hasn’t suffered enough economically to finally get residents involved to change the majority regime. A continuation from the Plantation era, nearly half of Island residents look to government for income, housing, healthcare and general welfare. Also, Hawaii’s 2,500 mile distance to the Mainland is another factor often cited for differences here. In any event, the Democrats ran better campaigns, displayed more unity — and got out their voters.
It will be even tougher going for small business under the new tax and spend regime.
A partisan hatred, not just dislike, of Republican Governor Linda Lingle, not unlike the 2008 hatred of President George W. Bush, by Democrats and particularly public employee unions, and local reversion of perceived negative Mainland campaign ads, fueled an all out successful effort, top to bottom, to reassert Democrat power. The mainstream media did their part to assist the Democrats with lots of news coverage and endorsements. Aiona, Lingle’s Lt. Governor, was tagged as if he were Governor and did little to defend the past 8 years.
An appointed school board constitutional amendment passed yesterday and now it is up to the Legislature to pass the rules on the transition from an elected board.
Kiss your tax refund goodbye: Hawaii voters approved another Con Con amendment to end tax rebates to taxpayers. The spendthrift legislature will keep the money.
All six City & County of Honolulu Charter amendments passed, including a new transit authority which will further mask actual rail costs and keep the taxpayers from direct changes, and a new City housing department.
The good news is that this election is finally over.
Bonus: HawaiiReporter.com - How People Pick Their Candidates