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Ethics Commission
puts lobbyists’ reports
online
In a new effort to make more information available on the Internet, the state Ethics Commission is now including lobbyist expenditure reports on its Web site, www.hawaii.gov/ethics.
Dan Mollway, commission executive director, said the reports will allow the public to see how much a business or organization is spending to influence legislation.
The reports have been available for public inspection at the Ethics Commission's Honolulu office, but this is the first time they have also been on the Internet, Mollway said.
The commission will also post on the Internet the gift reports filed by lawmakers and state officials, Mollway said. The reports should be online sometime this month.
Akaka speaks on climate
Today's worries about global warming started with studies done in Hawaii, U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka noted in a Senate floor speech Thursday.Speaking in favor of an amendment to set up an emissions reporting database and require a freeze on current levels of greenhouse gas emissions, Akaka said changes in Earth's climate are of grave concern.
"Strong evidence of increased atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases and climate change is obvious in my home state," Akaka said.
"Over 30 years ago, the Mauna Loa Climate Observatory documented evidence of increased carbon dioxide levels. Scientists predict an increase of extreme climate change events such as hurricanes, floods and droughts.
"The impacts of these events on business and agriculture in Hawaii and Pacific islands could be particularly severe and devastate our tourist-dependent economies," Akaka warned.
Hawaii's junior Democratic senator noted that "in just the past 100 years, Honolulu's average temperature has increased 4.4 degrees Fahrenheit, while precipitation has decreased by 20 percent."
The amendment failed in a 43-55 vote.
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