Sorry I took awhile to digest the VEBA letter from Marion Higa.
Her findings were that VEBA promotes adverse selection and increases premium costs, duplicates administrative costs and does not provide transparency.
It does promote adverse selection but that is because many retirees were afraid of the pilot nature of VEBA. I have talked to many retirees who have asked, “If the VEBA is made permanent will there be an enrollment period? By its nature the EUTF has increased premium costs. There cannot be competition if the amount of companies bidding is too few.
Duplicates administrative costs is true. Why it costs so much? I don’t know, but I believe it involves the bankruptcy that occurred.
VEBA is a trust under ERISA a federal program and as such the information is available for anyone to see. That the auditor was unable to obtain needed information must be explained to me.
There are a lot of questions but we should be allowed to respond. Also HSTA needs to act with a sense of urgency.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Central Chapter Elections
I have decided to run for HSTA Central Chapter President. I believe that the leadership has stood together and has not represented the general membership. They have not asked the right questions and have been satisfied with poor explanations.
In the past year I have seen HSTA become an unhappy place. It needs to become a place that is open. It promotes itself as the most democratic union, yet has not demonstrated it. I want to change it. I believe I can change it.
In the past year I have seen HSTA become an unhappy place. It needs to become a place that is open. It promotes itself as the most democratic union, yet has not demonstrated it. I want to change it. I believe I can change it.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Sports Commision
Aiona proposes a sports commission to promote sports events in Hawaii. I was going to comment on the Advertiser website but after 8 hours no one has commented. He has not demonstrated knowledge of what leadership in government entails. A few years ago I heard him on the radio suggesting building a smaller stadium. But if the stadium is smaller, no Pro Bowl.
He also asked to the parties in the furlough issue to meet. But did he do anything except talk to the news media?
I wonder if he knows how to introduce a bill?
He also asked to the parties in the furlough issue to meet. But did he do anything except talk to the news media?
I wonder if he knows how to introduce a bill?
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Let It Be
Okay the governor has rejected the furlough compromise. It now becomes her problem. It was her staff that walked away from negotiations. Now she wants it her way? HSTA should let it be.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
14%
I hope that the people of Hawaii realize what the governor is doing. She is not negotiating in good faith with the HSTA. It is an egregious breach of conduct for the governor and her staff to speak to the media during these negotiations. Even going so far as her negotiators publishing an opinion piece on an alternate media site.
It seems deceitful to tell the people of Hawaii that the negotiation with the HSTA on furloughs is a simple task to accomplish. For her proposed solution it would be necessary to negate a contract that is currently in force. It would involve calling in the legislature and the cost that that entails. By the governor requesting a vote by HSTA members and addressing them and the public is a violation of HRS Chapter 89.
How can Eric Seitz be speaking to the media about the negotiations? Is he a party to the negotiations? If he is a party, why is he? He is not a party to the contract. Is he in the room? For that matter is the governor in the room? Is he now saying that the support staff involved with special needs students is no longer needed?
What should be happening is answering these questions. Will there be any unintended consequences? What about the requirements for compliance to NCLB? What about test scores? What about the schools under restructuring?
A few years ago the governor stated her staff had a hard time with the 5th grade HSA test. So here is a little math problem that has bothered me. If teachers give up 15 planning days and they are to replace the 15 furlough days. What then happens to the original planning days? Do teachers now teach on those days also for a total of 30 more days or do the furlough days simply be moved and you still have furlough days and teachers now have no planning time? Or do teachers now work 15 additional days for free?
But there is a simple solution furloughs go away. To rephrase Ronald Reagan; Governor restore the 14% budget restriction to education.
It seems deceitful to tell the people of Hawaii that the negotiation with the HSTA on furloughs is a simple task to accomplish. For her proposed solution it would be necessary to negate a contract that is currently in force. It would involve calling in the legislature and the cost that that entails. By the governor requesting a vote by HSTA members and addressing them and the public is a violation of HRS Chapter 89.
How can Eric Seitz be speaking to the media about the negotiations? Is he a party to the negotiations? If he is a party, why is he? He is not a party to the contract. Is he in the room? For that matter is the governor in the room? Is he now saying that the support staff involved with special needs students is no longer needed?
What should be happening is answering these questions. Will there be any unintended consequences? What about the requirements for compliance to NCLB? What about test scores? What about the schools under restructuring?
A few years ago the governor stated her staff had a hard time with the 5th grade HSA test. So here is a little math problem that has bothered me. If teachers give up 15 planning days and they are to replace the 15 furlough days. What then happens to the original planning days? Do teachers now teach on those days also for a total of 30 more days or do the furlough days simply be moved and you still have furlough days and teachers now have no planning time? Or do teachers now work 15 additional days for free?
But there is a simple solution furloughs go away. To rephrase Ronald Reagan; Governor restore the 14% budget restriction to education.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
I hope that the people of Hawaii realize what the governor is doing. She is not negotiating in good faith with the HSTA. It is an egregious breach of conduct for the governor and her staff to speak to the media during these negotiations. Even going so far as her negotiators publishing an opinion piece on an alternate media site.
It seems deceitful to tell the people of Hawaii that the negotiation with the HSTA on furloughs is a simple task to accomplish. For her proposed solution it would be necessary to negate a contract that is currently in force. It would involve calling in the legislature and the cost that that entails. By the governor requesting a vote by HSTA members and addressing them and the public is a violation of HRS Chapter 89.
How can Eric Seitz be speaking to the media about the negotiations? Is he a party to the negotiations? If he is a party, why is he? He is not a party to the contract. Is he in the room? For that matter is the governor in the room? Is he now saying that the support staff involved with special needs students is no longer needed?
What should be happening is answering these questions. Will there be any unintended consequences? What about the requirements for compliance to NCLB? What about test scores? What about the schools under restructuring?
A few years ago the governor stated her staff had a hard time with the 5th grade HSA test. So here is a little math problem that has bothered me. If teachers give up 15 planning days and they are to replace the 15 furlough days. What then happens to the original planning days? Do teachers now teach on those days also for a total of 30 more days or do the furlough days simply be moved and you still have furlough days and teachers now have no planning time? Or do teachers now work 15 additional days for free?
But there is a simple solution furloughs go away. To paraphrase Ronald Reagan; Governor restore the 14% budget restriction to education.
It seems deceitful to tell the people of Hawaii that the negotiation with the HSTA on furloughs is a simple task to accomplish. For her proposed solution it would be necessary to negate a contract that is currently in force. It would involve calling in the legislature and the cost that that entails. By the governor requesting a vote by HSTA members and addressing them and the public is a violation of HRS Chapter 89.
How can Eric Seitz be speaking to the media about the negotiations? Is he a party to the negotiations? If he is a party, why is he? He is not a party to the contract. Is he in the room? For that matter is the governor in the room? Is he now saying that the support staff involved with special needs students is no longer needed?
What should be happening is answering these questions. Will there be any unintended consequences? What about the requirements for compliance to NCLB? What about test scores? What about the schools under restructuring?
A few years ago the governor stated her staff had a hard time with the 5th grade HSA test. So here is a little math problem that has bothered me. If teachers give up 15 planning days and they are to replace the 15 furlough days. What then happens to the original planning days? Do teachers now teach on those days also for a total of 30 more days or do the furlough days simply be moved and you still have furlough days and teachers now have no planning time? Or do teachers now work 15 additional days for free?
But there is a simple solution furloughs go away. To paraphrase Ronald Reagan; Governor restore the 14% budget restriction to education.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Rep Marcus Oshiro
Watching Marcus on the Hot Seat. Will be printed Sunday Advertiser. Worth reading.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)