Posted by Pono Kealoha on April 28, 2009 at 1:30pm
Updates on Global Settlement / Moritorium Bills from Mililani Trask & Kahoonei April 29th at 3:00pm in Room 224.I got there 4-28-09 @ 3:30pmjust in time to see everyone from that committee meeting leaving. Had planned on filming...but after speaking with an aid from Mele Carroll's office, I decided to leave. Evidently it was rescheduled for tomorrow the 29th at 3pm. Her aide said that the people they needed were not available...(whatever that means)...so cancelled till tomorrow. Room 224.I plan on going, so will report. But...I'd really suggest anyone who can make it should go. Good to have a "presence" there. Kali Watson and Keoni Aagard (classmates) were there and Keoni is the one who told me it was srescheduled for tomorrow. He said there was nothing of importance discussed today, but said important to come tomorrow.DonnaOn Tuesday, April 29, 2009 at 3:00pm in room 224, there is going to be a continuation of a conference committee meeting between the Chairs of the House and Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, Rep. Mele Carroll and Senator Clayton ... The following bills are being discussed as follows:SB 995—Relating to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; settlement of back payments. The conference committee opened up last week Friday and a conference draft bill was handed to Rep. Mele Carroll and her conferees proposed by Senator Clayton Hee. Since the House draft and Senate draft of SB 995 are different and there is no agreement at this time. Senator Clayton Hee offered a proposed conference draft legislation to Rep. Mele Carroll for her and her conferees consideration. This Tuesday’s meeting is where the discussion is taking place.The conference draft that you all may have received in email form, was sent to you by Rep. Mele Carroll’s office to ask for your input and concerns. She is concerned about this bill because Senator Clayton Hee includes a new section where he wants to include a global settlement. Rep. Mele Carroll is concerned because there was no public input on a global settlement and for the purpose of transparency, she wanted to get this information out to the Hawaiian community for their input ... Please note that Rep. Mele Carroll has not agreed to anything at this time. She is waiting to hear from all of you. Please email your comments.Another bill that is going to be taken up at the 3:00pm agenda is SB 1677 Relating to the issue of the ceded lands. This is a Senate Majority package bill where it sets a policy on how the public land trust and/or ceded lands are sold and/or transferred, exchanged. The Senate and the House during the usual legislative process disagreed and offered house drafts and senate drafts. This is why the bill is in conference. Last week, Senator Clayton Hee had some discussion on what parts of the bill he agrees with the House and the Senate.Rep. Mele Carroll asked that they reconvene the conference meeting toTuesday, April 29, 2009 at 3:00pm for more discussion. Her reasoning for getting more time discussing this bill is so she can inform all of you about the discussion on the bill and hopefully she can receive input from the Hawaiian community. What is sad is that she hasn’t received very much email testimony or comments from the Hawaiian community as she would have liked for a full moratorium on the sale and transfer of ceded lands. She is receiving more email messages from the Hawaiian community on HB 900 supporting the house draft.I also want to be clear that my boss, Rep. Mele Carroll still stands on the position of a full moratorium ... She is standing firm on her position of a full moratorium.As for the SB 995, her job is to receive the information that Senator Hee puts out and when it’s the right time, will make a decision on the final conference draft proposed. This can go on til Friday of this week as it usually does since there is a fiscal implication. Friday is the deadline to make decision on any bills with fiscal implications.SO WE ARE CLEAR, REP. MELE CARROLL HAS NOT AGREED TO ANY GLOBAL SETTLEMENT OR HAVE NOT CUT ANY DEALS EITHER. SHE IS THE ONLY LEGISLATOR THAT I KNOW WHO IS DOING HER BEST TO GET COMMUNITY INPUT ...Last, if you are deeply concerned about these issues, I invite all of you to join us at the conference committee meeting on Tuesday, April 29th at 3:00pm in Room 224.Call me if you have any questions, 224-8068 or 586-6237.Na'u me ke aloha,Wayne Kaho'onei Panoke
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