Sometime today the “official” counter on this page will slip past the 1.1 million mark. No fireworks, but I’ll notice nonetheless. That means just over 200,000 visits to the blog since the beginning of the year, and over 6,000 unique visitors in each of the past three months. Thanks to those of you who have made it a regular part of your day. Well, and thanks to the casual or occasional visitors as well. You’re all contributing to the ongoing count.
Have you noticed this slick Lingle hat trick? Her spin team has figured out that she can claim credit for the legislature’s work by holding up funds for projects approved by the leg, and then later “releasing” the funds with a press release announcing each discrete project. Check the list of recent press releases and you’ll see what I mean. They make it sound like Lingle just unexpectedly found the money somewhere and designated the projects to receive it. Nowhere do they mention that the funds were in a budget that was the product of the legislative process. It puts recipients in a bind. They’re probably upset that the funds were not released immediately, and may be angry if they had to lobby the governor’s office to free the funds before they lapse, but they’ll be expected to show appropriate gratitude for the governor’s belated action. But somehow Lingle pulls it off repeatedly.
I guess this came to mind because the opening of the 2008 legislative session is just a few weeks away and I’m preparing to reenter that world on Wednesday along with hundreds of other people hired just for the few months of the annual session. It will be my third session working for Rep. Lyla Berg, who probably has to take a bit of flack along the way for inviting me onto her staff during the session. We hope to have fun this session, which will soon seamlessly morph into election year. We’ll see what happens.
If you’re looking for a New Year resolution, forget the pledges to exercise regularly or change your lifestyle. They rarely work for long. Every year there are people who suddenly appear walking on the beach right after January 1, and then just as suddenly fade away after the first couple of weeks of the year.
My suggested resolution? Reread Ernest Murphy’s pizza essay and then enjoy your own creations. Click on the photo for a better view of my most recent pizza.
4 responses so far ↓
1 BKH2007 // Dec 30, 2007 at 9:07 am
“If you’re looking for a New Year resolution, forget the pledges to exercise regularly or change your lifestyle…”
At the beginning of this year, I resolved to improve my physical fitness and reduce the size of my belly through exercise. I put off fulfilling that pledge–always in the back of my mind–until May when I called a local health club and promptly joined. Since mid-May I have exercised thrice a week, lifting weights and doing cardiovascular exercises. Earlier this month, I have found I shaved off twelve pounds. The point is, even if you don’t start on your pledge right away, it’s never too late to do so.
2 iliwai34 // Dec 30, 2007 at 9:22 am
Just curious. How did Rep Berg vote on Act 2 and why?
3 Ian Lind // Dec 30, 2007 at 8:24 pm
The public record is online. Rep. Berg voted “no” on Act 2.
Concerning her reasoning, sessino staff did not carry over through the special session, so I wasn’t consulting with her during that period. I presume her vote reflected her deference to the people of the neighbor islands and discomfort with the process through which the Superferry got to this state without an environmental review.
http://capitol.hawaii.gov/splsession2007b/status/SB1.htm
4 stevelaudig // Dec 31, 2007 at 2:01 am
Can someone help me with what must sound like a question based in ignorance. which it is. but what is the legal authority for a governor’s not releasing funds. Is it constitutional? Is it statutory? Or is is simply custom and practice hallowed by years of doing it?
It seems clear to me [but I've been wrong before] than unless the executive branch has authority to not spend funds when and how the legislation commands those funds be spent then the “not spending” in the manner described in the statute is lawless and judicial relief in the way of injunctive orders is available. Again apologies for ignorance but it seems absurd for an executive to effectively veto or delay the implementation of legislation in this fashion. I’ll take my answer “off the air.”
Happiest of New Years.
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