May 3, 2010

From the agenda committee:

1. General update on special Indio City Council meeting held on 4/27/10.
2. What are your thoughts on the recently passed House bill “Akaka Bill” under which most of the nation’s ethnic Hawaiians can organize with powers and privileges of self government? Reference: WSJ (Wall Street Journal) opinion 3/1/10 Hawaiian Secession
3. Arizona just passed its immigration bill, what are your thoughts on this? References: Desert Sun 4/24/10 page A1-“Protests Planned Against Arizona Law”, LA times 4/24/10 Page 1 – “Immigration May Spur a Shakedown”, WSJ 4/26/10 Page A9 – “Immigration Law Boosts Governor”, WSJ 4/27/10 Page A16 – “Arizona’s Immigration Frustration”
4. A value added tax is being proposed, what are your thoughts? Reference: WSJ 10/8/09 –“Mrs. Pelosi’s VAT”, OCED, Heritage Foundation Policy Center 2008 “Comparative Table of European VAT and General Taxes”

More references:

Topic #2:

Republican committee: Native Hawaiian Recognition (Akaka Bill)

Princess Kaiulani (the movie), Hawaiian Independence Blog

Deepwater Horizon blowout

The agenda committee did not propose a discussion of the Gulf of Mexico disaster, so here I'm providing some details about it.

Wiki piece

Also, see my SpareCan entry.

April 19, 2010

Topics:

1. How do you think the Federal Supreme Court should decide in the matter of extending prison terms for sex offenders who have already completed their State Court Mandated prison sentence? Reference: WSJ opinion 1/20/10 “Predators and the Constitution” continued from April 5, 2010.
2. What are your thoughts on the recent policy statement issued by the President regarding when we would use nuclear weapons to respond to a biological or similar attack on the U.S.? No reference.
3. What are your opinions on methods for stimulating employment and the economy? – One recent proposal has been to exempt teenagers from the minimum $7.25 Federal Wage Policy. Reference: WSJ opinion 3/5/10 Friday Page A20. The Young and the Jobless
4. What are your thoughts on the recently passed House bill “Akaka Bill” under which most of the nation’s ethnic Hawaiians can organize with powers and privileges of self government? Reference WSJ 3/1/10. Republican source

Additional references:

Topic #1: SCOTUS: merit briefs, Oral Argument, heretical ideas, Duke law

Topic #2: NY Times: Obama Limits When U.S. Would Use Nuclear Arms, Nuclear Weapons

Topic #4: Hawaiian Independence Blog