Newswatch - News

The state House has given unanimous approval to a legislative budget of $23 million.

[Wait A Minute]

"MAHALO" to Tesoro for donating the funds so the general public can enjoy free entertainment during this tryng economic times.

[Michael W]

Regarding Isle Schools near botom in report:

It is time that we stopped the bleeding of money towards this broken, top heavy DOE. Despite an increase in spending per student, isle test scores are down. STOP THROWING MORE GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD. Force them to trim their administrative staff so that more money goes to where it belongs - OUR CHILDREN. Take back the HSTA payraises due to the breach of the contract they created for failing to implement random drug testing. The DOE is not only too big, it doesn't work. As state coffers dry up, raising taxes to cover DOE shortfalls while not holding them accountable for improvements in efficiency and in performance, is just plain stupid.

As the current recession deepens, raising taxes on an already cash strapped population will only strengthen and prolong this recession. As businesses fail and more people are being forced to tighten their belts to do more with less, it is time we sent a message to the Governor and the legislature that they need to start using our tax dollars more eficiently. Many will be watching our legislative representatives (who, as of this writing, have failed to forgo their payraises in this tough economic environment) to see whether they tighten their belts or impose more taxes. The next elections are not that far off. If I was Chairman Norman Sakamoto, I would be ashamed for suggesting tax hikes in the middle of this recession. I also hope that residents in his district are taking notice and remember this the next time they go to the polls.

"The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works" - Barack Obama - 2009 Inaugural Address