Click to enlarge Background: The Obama Administration’s Treasury Department estimates that the cap-and-trade national energy tax will result in an average $1,761 in increased costs for American families. In Copenhagen yesterday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced that the U.S. “is prepared to join other rich countries in raising $100 billion in… Read more »

Aloha, Segregation: The Akaka bill would create a race-based state in Hawaii Wall Street Journal Editorial December 17, 2009 President Obama speaks proudly of his childhood in Hawaii, so we wonder what the state's voters think of his support for a bill that would redistribute its wealth based on race. That's what would happen under the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement today regarding passage of the Democrats’ Stimulus Part II: “Once again, Speaker Pelosi, President Obama and Democrats in Congress have decided that more reckless government spending is the answer to our country’s problems. Clearly, they have not learned the lesson from the first failed… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement today following Committee passage of H.R. 2314, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2009: “It was the correct course of action for Democrats to abandon their rush to adopt the proposed changes to the Akaka Bill at today’s hastily-scheduled markup. “With both the… Read more »

The Castle Nugent National Historic Site Establishment Act (H.R. 3726) December 16, 2009 Full Committee Markup Reporting H.R. 3726 out of Committee (View Roll Call Vote) The bill would establish the Castle Nugent Historic Site on St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. The park would include 2,900 acres and extend out into the ocean to the 3 mile territorial limit. The National Park Service… Read more »

The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2009 (H.R. 2314) December 16, 2009 Full Committee Markup Reporting H.R. 2314 out of Committee (View Roll Call Vote) The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2009, also known as the Akaka bill, would create a separate governing entity for Native Hawaiians. Following strong opposition from Hawaii’s Governor and Attorney… Read more »

Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Improvement Act of 2009 (H.R. 2288) December 16, 2009 Full Committee Markup Reporting H.R. 2288 out of Committee (Voted favorably by voice vote) The "Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Improvement Act of 2009" extends funding for two endangered fish programs in the Upper Colorado and San Juan river basins.  The bill… Read more »

Today, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings offered a motion to postpone the markup of H.R. 2314, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2009, until February 24, 2010 – allowing interested parties 60 days to thoroughly review proposed changes to the bill. Last night, Hawaii Attorney General Mark Bennett on behalf of Governor Linda Lingle sent… Read more »

Hawaii Attorney General Mark Bennett sent a letter to House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall and Ranking Member Doc Hastings stating his and Governor Linda Lingle’s “strong opposition” to the latest version of H.R. 2314, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2009, which is slated to be offered as a substitute amendment by Rep. Neil Abercrombie during a full… Read more »

It's Not Just the Obamas Going to Hawaii This December National Review, The Corner Kathryn Jean Lopez December 14, 2009 For years (since 1999), Daniel Akaka has been trying to make the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act law. On Friday afternoon, the minority on the House Natural Resources Committee got word that there will be a mark-up on it on Wednesday. Apparently… Read more »