Would it help if we left out some cookies?

So Gov. Neil Abercrombie is holding off on any proposals for new taxes in his budget request until after Christmas.

The governor has floated a plan calling for $439 million in new spending next year, with much of the money earmarked for early childhood education and upgrades to the state’s obsolete computer systems. But even with rosier economic fortunes in recent months, that doesn’t always guarantee a boost in tax funds for the state.

So he’ll wait to decide on revenue enhancements (soda taxes and the like) until after he hears from the Council on Revenues in January. Who knew the council would be playing the state’s jolly old elf?

Dear Santa: Bring us good revenue forecasts. No lumps of coal, please.

Akaka plays the Inouye card to push Akaka Bill

It seemed ironic to hear the retiring U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka urge his fellow members to pass the Native Hawaiian federal recognition bill nicknamed after him, in honor of the late Sen. Daniel Inouye.

Late-in-the-year efforts to get the "Akaka Bill" passed had always been the kuleana of Inouye himself, and now it was his junior colleague in his stead.

One such attempt by Inouye happened years ago when he inserted its bill number into a defense appropriations measure, an effort that was defeated because Senate rules barred policy legislation from being part of earmarks. And there have been other examples of language hidden away in bills to accomplish passage by stealth.

Could he really get the thing passed from beyond the grave through a measure in his honor? Now that would be a neat trick.