On Politics http://www.staradvertiser.com/editorialspremium/onpoliticspremium RSS Feed for On Politics Premium en-us Tue, 21 May 2013 11:30:00 GMT Luke gives agencies notice: Loose fiscal times are over http://www.staradvertiser.com/editorialspremium/onpoliticspremium/20130521__Luke_gives_agencies_notice_Loose_fiscal_times_are_over.html Mark down Jan. 4 as the date when the state House Democrats, in coalition with House Republicans, put Rep. Sylvia Luke in charge of the House Finance Committee. Tsutsui still working out new alliance with governor http://www.staradvertiser.com/editorialspremium/onpoliticspremium/20130519_Tsutsui_still_working_out_new_alliance_with_governor.html Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui came to Gov. Neil Abercrombie's administration by way of the state Constitution, not a desire to join the team or the wish of the voters. U.S. Senate race splits veteran Dem operatives http://www.staradvertiser.com/editorialspremium/onpoliticspremium/20130503_US_Senate_race_splits_veteran_Dem_operatives.html After the death of Hawaii's senior Sen. Daniel K. Inouye in December, the conventional Washington, D.C., wisdom had his Senate seat flowing smoothly to his U.S. House protégé, Rep. Colleen Hanabusa. Legislature wrapping up in a conservative mood http://www.staradvertiser.com/editorialspremium/onpoliticspremium/20130430_Legislature_wrapping_up_in_a_conservative_mood_.html This is the state Legislature's last week of the regular 2013 session. There was a modest changing of the guard among legislative leaders. Both the House and Senate have new leaders in charge, Rep. Joe Souki and Sen. Donna Mercado Kim, although the general direction of both chambers continued with little change. Winning Hanabusa's seat requires a mixed message http://www.staradvertiser.com/editorialspremium/onpoliticspremium/20130428_Winning_Hanabusas_seat_requires_a_mixed_message.html What will it take to win Hawaii Congressional District 1? This is one strange district. The urban Honolulu district runs from Hawaii Kai to Kapolei and touches both Democratic and Republican strongholds. Schatz-Hanabusa clash reveals Democratic divide http://www.staradvertiser.com/editorialspremium/onpoliticspremium/20130426_SchatzHanabusa_clash__reveals_Democratic_divide.html The campaign by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz will define next year's political season and perhaps the Hawaii Democratic Party. Bill finally becomes clear for public worker contracts http://www.staradvertiser.com/editorialspremium/onpoliticspremium/20130423_Bill_finally_becomes_clear_for_public_worker_contracts_.html The state Legislature must know some three-legged folks, because since last week, the other shoe has fallen three times. First, the public school teachers happily ratified a new contract that will give them a series of 3 percent pay raises, estimated to cost $300 million more over the life of the contract. New UH-Hilo college versus old repairs in budget battle http://www.staradvertiser.com/editorialspremium/onpoliticspremium/20130421_New_UHHilo_college_versus_old_repairs_in_budget_battle.html Finding the definition of a compromise is easy; figuring out how to reach a compromise is not. The case in point is the University of Hawaii at Hilo's College of Pharmacy. It needs money and so does most of the rest of the university system. Hawaii GOP needs to put the horse before the cart http://www.staradvertiser.com/editorialspremium/onpoliticspremium/20130419__Hawaii_GOP_needs_to_put_the_horse_before_the_cart.html It is spring and there has been a sighting of Linda Lingle. The 59-year-old, two-time Maui mayor and two-term Hawaii governor was the featured speaker at the state Republican Lincoln Day dinner this week. Abercrombie has the power of incumbency in his favor http://www.staradvertiser.com/editorialspremium/onpoliticspremium/20130416__Abercrombie_has_the_power_of_incumbency_in_his_favor.html It has been a slow climb up, but Gov. Neil Abercrombie is starting to show just why dislodging a sitting Hawaii governor is so tough. Before looking at his positives, examine Abercrombie's challenges.