If you read yesterday’s entry and couldn’t find the link to the U.S. News report on American Water, you weren’t alone. But I eventually got that link fixed, so don’t hesitate to try again.
After spending last weekend in Baltimore, I couldn’t help noticing a proposal to allow emergency imposition of “public safety act zones” giving the government martial law-like controls. It’s a response to the city’s rising number of murders, already at 108 for this year.
In addition to closing businesses in the zones, the bill would permit police to limit the number of people who could gather on sidewalks, in streets or in other outdoor areas. It would prohibit the sale and possession of weapons, though Curran acknowledged that weapons used by criminals are almost always already obtained illegally. Zones could be established solely by the mayor, initially for a two weeks, with the option to renew indefinitely.
According to the story, a candidate advocating a similar proposal is the Democratic candidate for mayor in Philadelphia.
Noted: Just 20 percent or less of Hawaii’s state senators and representatives have filed their personal financial disclosures covering the 2006 calendar year and up through the filing date. These public disclosures can be filed beginning January 1, but few legislators choose to file early. This means that the public does not have updated information on potential conflicts of interest when it is needed most, that is, while the Legislature is in session. It would be interesting to see how many other states allow legislators to delay such disclosures until after their sessions are over.
Governor Lingle filed her disclosure in early February, while Lt. Gov. Aiona’s latest has yet to appear on the Ethics Commission web site.
Lingle’s administration is asking for a blanket exemption from past procurement practice for mainland and interisland travel, according to a pending request to the state procurement office.
In the current market conditions, thre is no advantage to the State to procure air and/or hotel reservations by competitive means. Reservations can be made via the internet direct with the airlines or hotels, on-line travel agencies, and traditional travel agencies who can offer competitive rates. Online and direct reservations are more efficient as they offer immediate confirmation.
But as online prices can vary as widely as the computer search skills of state employees, wholesale deregulation might not end up being in the public interest. It is, though, an interesting policy question.
The star of this Feline Friday is Mr. Romeo, our plain but most sincere cat. I grabbed this photo when we got back from our walk yesterday morning, and he was waiting patiently out in front for us to return. Romeo is usually quiet and self-sufficient, but every once in a while can become very insistent on getting his share of love and attention.
For a walk-on who just declared himself a member of our household, he’s become quite a central figure.
1 response so far ↓
1 lesiharajr // May 23, 2007 at 10:34 pm
Thanks for pointing out the little known fact that state law allows legislators to disclosure their financial interests after adjournment of the legislative session, even though the public would expect disclosure while legislative decisions are being made.
This session I introduced SB 760, which moved no where without a hearing. Section 1 of the bill states: “Current filing requirements allow seventeen months to lapse before a filing is required. During this period of time, a legislator could acquire a significant new financial interest, but would not be required to publicly disclose this information until after the legislature adjourns its regular session. The purpose of this Act is to improve upon the current filing requirements for financial disclosures and require legislators to publicly disclose any new financial interests near the start of the each legislative session.”
I’d like to build some public momentum in support of this bill.
LES IHARA, JR.
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