I guess we should rejoice now that the State Senate has gone 100 percent Democrat.
I guess we should rejoice now that the State Senate has gone 100 percent Democrat.
Watching them celebrate knocking out Sam Slom reminds one of the football team up 56-0 with a minute left on the clock and still throwing for another touchdown.
It’s never enough, is it?
So they own it all after all these years and what a list of achievements!
1. A bankrupt Rail project
2. Millions of dollars of deferred maintenance and repairs of state facilities and equipment
3. 45th ranking among US states and Puerto Rico in fiscal solvency
4. No. 1 in teacher absenteeism
5. 49th rank in top states to do business
6. Highest consumer prices in USA
7. Third highest excises taxes in USA
8. State pension system with huge unfunded liability
9. 50th in cost of living
10. Hawaii least tax friendly state in USA
11. Hawaii short 500 doctors
12. Traffic gridlock amongst worst in USA
13. 13th in state and local debt per capita
14. Worst in nation (50th) in total state debt and unfunded liabilities as percent of GSP
The above list is far from complete and the statistics can change year to year but one gets the picture loud and clear. So there are still six House members to be eliminated before Hawaii gains the rare distinction of being 100 percent under the rule of Democrats. Still a few touchdowns to score!
Let’s top all of that off by sending four more to a Republican controlled Washington. That makes a lot of sense! What crumbs will trickle down now to help cushion the aforementioned problems?
For sure expect taxes and more taxes. They’ll disguise them, call them other names but it’s in their DNA to overspend and kick the whole mess down the road to our kids and grandkids.
Auwe! Hawaii is Detroit with palm trees!
Jim Higgins is a resident of Puuanahulu