Hawaiʻi will ban chlorpyrifos, establish meaningful pesticide regulations
With Governor Ige's signature, SB3095 will become law and Hawaiʻi will lead the nation in establishing pesticide regulatory policy that protects the health and safety of its people and environment.
House public safety committee wins Rusty Scalpel award for hurricane Frankenbill
The committee voted to gut a criminal justice reform bill and replace it with a bill looking at hurricane-resistant school structures with no input from advocates or the community.
Of course the GOP won’t seat Jones until next year
The petty, partisan and blatantly hypocritical move to try and save Trump's tax plan by blocking the will of the Alabama voters should come as no surprise.
Background checks keep guns in the hands of ‘good guys’ only
Americans consistently and overwhelmingly support background checks, but NRA-funded politicians have stalled a bill to close loopholes at the federal level.
Proposed budget cuts to tsunami warning system put Hawaiʻi at significant risk
President Trump’s budget proposes to eliminate seismic and water monitoring, needlessly putting coastal residents in jeopardy.
Is Souki’s House leadership in trouble?
Within today's House committee chair shuffle lies the very real potential for an impending leadership shakeup.
Voting for change
Dave Mulinix explains why he broke state law to cast his electoral vote for Bernie Sanders.
Severe injuries at Standing Rock reflect extreme level of police violence
An unarmed protester is in danger of losing her arm after injuries suffered at the hands of police in North Dakota; other injuries have been reported as well.
TPP fast track passes Senate, but the fight is far from over
If progressives can push all the democratic presidential candidates to oppose the TPP, including Hillary Clinton, it could go a long way in flipping more Congressional democrats from yes to no.
Hawaiʻi coalition urges Congress to oppose fast tracking the TPP
The newly-formed coalition includes groups from the labor rights, environmental protection, Native Hawaiian sovereignty, food justice, and social justice movements.
Maui hospitals look to privatization as potential solution for budget woes
The state's Maui region public hospitals are hoping to initiate discussions with a private healthcare corporation to enter into a partnership that could save the system money in the midst of budget shortfalls.
Former biotech legislator of the year to head House agriculture committee
While the State Senate has become more progressive, this is yet another example of the State House moving in the opposite direction.
Rep. Wooley’s gut-and-replace gambit
In an attempt to get a GMO-labeling bill heard this session, Rep. Jessica Wooley turned to a legislative maneuver that many agree is an unsavory tactic.
“County preemption” measure dies in committee
A bill that would have given the state broader authority to preempt county ordinances it finds inconvenient, such as those restricting biotech, failed to find enough support to pass through the senate agriculture committee.