Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Lobbyists, Start Your Engines!

The third Wednesday in January (i.e., January 20, 2010) draws near. On that day, the Hawaii State Legislature will convene its regular session at 10:00 o'clock a.m. Aside from enjoying a new salary, some say the highest pay in the country for a part time legislature, legislators will be busy shoveling bills into the legislative trough and then waiting to see what floats to the top with only their rhetoric and finger pointing to stir the slurry.

The purse is light this year, so legislators might inflict the least amount of damage to land use and environmental laws this session. However, you may want to keep an eye out for the slippery bill that makes it through and either inhibits business or adds one more tax, fee, or regulation on the back of our entrepreneurs and small businesses that has nothing to do with encouraging economic growth or environmental protection.

You can keep an eye on things at the legislature's updated website for the 2010 Regular Session, which includes bill and resolution status, text, and committee reports at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2010. The keepers of the legislature's website have done a great job making the people's government transparent by adding new functions and tweaks that allow easy, remote access to legislative information.

Hawaii Land Use Law & Policy will also be tracking and reporting on select measures.

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