Posted on: Saturday, October 3, 2009
Counting blunder could lead to another
By David Shapiro
We ended last week on Lingle-nomics and we'll pick up right where we left off as we "flASHback" on this week's news that amused and confused:
Gov. Linda Lingle said her administration miscounted tax revenues for fiscal 2009, leaving the state $44 million deeper in the hole than we thought. Incompetence is the gift that just keeps giving, isn't it?
Democratic chairman Brian Schatz cut the governor no slack, saying she promised fiscal discipline and "the buck must stop with her." He's not getting the problem. There is no buck.
Fresh from this fiasco, the state Tax Department is forming a new unit to get involved in business cash transactions. I'm not sure I'd trust these folks to count my change at a drive-through.
The Land Use Commission allowed the city a three-year extension on closing the Waimanalo Gulch landfill. That gives Mayor Mufi Hannemann plenty of time to get elected governor and blame his successor the next time it comes up.
State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa announced she's running for the U.S. House in 2010. She's raised the pay of Hawai'i legislators about as high as she can and is ready to see what she can do for Congress.
Sen. Norman Sakamoto is the latest Democrat to join the race for lieutenant governor, saying, "These times require action." And the LG's office is a perfect front-row seat to watch other people act.
Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi vetoed a bill that would have allowed Puna residents to live in tents on their property. These are mean times when you can't even be homeless on your own land.
The University of Hawai'i's Gartley Hall, which houses the psychology department, was evacuated for emergency repairs. Structural damage was threatening to cause Freudian slippage.
Hawai'i may not have enough hospital beds in a swine flu outbreak, a national report said. Luckily, we have plenty of piggeries.
Hawai'i divorce rates are low compared to other states, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. When we marry Miss Right, we go in knowing that her first name is Always.
And the quote of the week ... from UH football coach Greg McMackin after a tough trip to Louisiana Tech: "There's no whining in football." Except when coaches lose. Or think they aren't paid enough. Or don't like their facilities.
