Elections 2022: Dr. Josh Green has been at the State Capitol for 18 years without much scrutiny

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We’re all so busy. But we’re days before the ballots start arriving in Hawaii’s mailboxes for the Gubernatorial Race.

The winner at the Democratic Primary Election will become the Governor for the next four years. There are 3 top candidates : Vicky Cayetano and Kai Kahele and Josh Green.

Dr. Green has been at the State Capitol for 18 years. He has branded himself as the “Dr. Josh Green”, wearing his medical scrubs to campaign events and activities outside of the hospital. Even his official Facebook banner portrays him in his medical scrubs.

Here’s an extremely brief chronology of Dr. Green’ record at the State Capitol relating to healthcare and politics.

2012

BIG ISLAND NOW’s questioned Sen. Josh Green‘s donations and involvement

” But Green so far hasn’t addressed questions on why he used his position as senator to act on behalf of a private company; if that act was connected to the donation; and whether he shares the city’s view that taxpayers shouldn’t foot the bill for inflated prices on medication.

Meanwhile, Automated Healthcare Solutions is no stranger to controversy, paying handsomely to political lobbying firms to advance its interests (including $82,000 to a single firm in Florida.) The firm pays doctors who dispense medications directly to patients, then bills insurance carriers and governments at a higher amount. To put it mildly.

The unique pricing scheme hasn’t escaped the gaze of insurance carriers either, who fought last session to pass a bill capping the prices of directly-dispensed drugs. The bill was killed off in a committee chaired by none other than Senator Clayton Hee, the only legislator besides Sen. Green to receive contributions from Automated Healthcare Solutions.

Whether Senators Green and Hee acted inappropriately is up to the public to decide, but the wasteful and abusive pricing scheme employed by companies like Automated Healthcare Solutions can only be dealt with at the Legislature via a cap on excessive pricing practices.“

2013

Babara Polk, a long time advocate for good government wrote this about Dr. Green and HB 2175 that left favoritism open.

” Last year the state Legislature passed a bill intended to exempt members of temporary task forces from sections of the state ethics code. But in the process, they also exempted themselves from the “fair treatment” section of the code:

“No legislator or employee shall use or attempt to use the legislator’s or employee’s official position to secure or grant unwarranted privileges, exemptions, advantages, contracts, or treatment, for oneself or others.”

HB 2175 (which became Act 208 with the governor’s signature) exempted task force members from these and other provisions —bad enough, since it leaves a wide open door for favoritism when one industry representative is allowed to benefit from information not available to others. But it also broadened a previous exemption for legislators that applied only when engaged in their legislative functions. Now the exemption applies to anything they do in their role as a legislator.

An example that would have come under scrutiny prior to approval of Act 208 was Maui Senator Josh Green’s intervention in a payment dispute between the city and Automated HealthCare Solutions. Although he did not advocate a specific solution, he did call the city offer “unreasonable”. Eight days later, Green received a campaign contribution from Automated HealthCare Solutions for $2,000. When the matter became public, Sen. Green donated the money to charity, claiming that he had not intended to be taking the company’s side.

However, even if he had intended to influence the decision, that would not have been a violation of the ethics code under Act 208’s exemption.”

2016

Civil Beat’s Nick Grube reported Dr. Green is sitting on more than $500,000 of campaign cash.

” State Sen. Josh Green has more than a half-million dollars in his campaign coffers, far more than any of his 24 colleagues.

Green’s $515,800 exceeds the combined cash on hand of the two senators who come closest to him on that measure, Donna Mercado Kim ($245,000) and Donovan Dela Cruz ($244,800).

Green, who represents Hawaii County’s Kona and Kau districts, also raised more money than any of his colleagues — $72,000 — in the last reporting period that covers July-December 2015.

And yet, Green is not up for re-election until 2018. He faced no opponent in the 2014 Democratic primary and swamped Libertarian Michael Last, taking 76 percent of the vote in the general election.

Green has received significant contributions from medical interests. He is an emergency room doctor and was, until a recent Senate leadership shakeup, chair of the Senate Health Committee.

In 2015, donors included political action committees for the Hawaii Medical Association, the Hawaii Medical Service Association, UHA Health Insurance and the Healthcare Association of Hawaii.”

2018

The Maui News reported Dr. Josh Green’s hiring actions when elected as Lt. Governor.

” HONOLULU — Hawaii Lt. Gov. Josh Green has appointed a former carpenters’ union official to be his chief of staff months after a super PAC funded by the union spent over $1 million supporting his candidacy in the Democratic Party primary.“

The Star Advertiser’s Sophie Cocke went into further details that almost revealed a “pecking order” to rewarding donations.

Lt. Gov. Josh Green has hired Brooke Wilson, who served as political and education director for the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters, as his chief of staff, as well as experts from the health care industry to staff his office on the fifth floor of the state Capitol.

Green, who was sworn into office Monday, received more than $1 million in campaign contributions from the super political action committee financed by the pro-rail carpenters union, called Be Change Now, during his campaign for lieutenant governor — a staggering amount for such a race which surprised political observers and elicited criticism from his Democratic primary rivals.

As deputy chief of staff, Green has hired Jeremy Lakin. Lakin worked for the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, a trade association for hospitals, skilled-nursing facilities and other businesses operating in the health care sector. Lakin, who is also an attorney, has specialized in public policy, government administration and litigation, according to Green’s office.

J.P. Schmidt, who served as the state’s insurance commissioner under former Gov. Linda Lingle and has worked in the insurance sector since leaving office, has joined Green’s office as a senior policy adviser.

2020

Dr. Green continues to receive substantial amounts from the health care, including from Pfizer Corporation, a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical corporation. Green travelled to the Mainland for Fundraisers. Needless to say, Green has also received hundreds of thousands of dollars from lobbyists, labor unions, legal, developers, healthcare, and so on.

2022

“Dr” Green has held the most fundraisers than Kahele and Cayetano. On July 13, 2022, there was a conflict of schedule between Green’s fundraiser at the Waialae Country Club in Kahala and YMCA forum on women issues. Green was a no-show at the YMCA forum. Considering that both the events were in Honolulu, Green could have easily “show face” at the YMCA for a time.

Campaign Finance Influence

What is significant are the corporate donations. However, it must be noted that corporations have dished out their donations through various individual names to outsmart the maximum limit of $6,000 allowable by law.

It must be noted that every donor has the free agency to donate their own money as they wish.

What is significant is how donations influence and control the candidate.

In the case of Dr. Josh Green, the “pay to play” factor with powerful big corporations and labor unions is very blatant and in your face. Dr. Green or Lt. Governor Green fails the smell test.

Elections 2022: Should the public question Dr. Green more?

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Should we question this candidate’s campaigning tactics and record a little more?

Dr. Josh Green has been in the State Legislature for 18 years. He is currently compensated for approximately $165,552 as the Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii

Today in his campaign facebook page, he is also celebrating his career as a doctor for the past 25 years.

Lt. Governor Green in his medical uniform thanking the public for the love. It’s interesting to note that he talks like he’s already cinched the position of Governorship in Hawaii.

What is this candidate?

Lt. Governor Green or Dr. Green?

How does one clock time on the job for Lt. Governor? Is he doing $165,552 worth of labor for the taxpayers?

How much time is allocated for his medical profession? How much time for his political campaign?

It’s interesting to note this candidate has mostly highlighted his medical career more than his public office during this campaign.

Dr. Green appear to wear his medical scrubs wherever he goes. It’s certainly part of his “branding”. He’s dressed in his branding scrubs at sign-waving, meet and greet, on the beach, at the taro patch, the bakery, and so on.

The Doctor Brand

This is certainly the persuasive ploy to take – to dress as a Doctor and to relentlessly push the phrase “Trusted, Caring Leadership” as his campaign slogan.

Most public sentiments towards a doctor are naturally positive. Someone is in need of care and the doctor is there to make us feel better.

A doctor becomes someone we can trust to take good care of us. It’s just like the image of a “fireman”.

A fireman comes to the rescue or to put out our house fire. It’s unlike the policeman who has to maintain law and order. A policeman is capable of making a bad person be accountable and be punished. The policeman breaks up fights and may have to shoot a criminal. They’re involved in giving speeding and DUI citations. We don’t like that or run away from the policeman if we’re guilty.

So, there are systemic stereotypes in our society.

Can you imagine a gubernatorial candidate dressed in a policeman outfit as his campaign garb?

Can you imagine gubernatorial candidate dressed in a clown costume?

This leads to a few fundamental questions in this gubernatorial campaign.

Are we electing a Doctor for the office of the Governor?

Should the public study Dr. Green’s legislative record these past 18 years?

Should the public study Dr. Green’s phenomenal fundraising amounts from special interest groups here and from the mainland?

Elections 2022: The public deserves truth & honesty in political advertisements

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Manipulating the social media has become an art form. I’m going to choose one television ad which is airing relentlessly on corporate TV programs here in Hawaii. These ads are very expensive to run. Obviously, only candidates with a big campaign money chest can afford this.

I will choose this one that touches Hawaii’s ongoing problems with housing. Watch this first – Green’s political ad about “affordable housing” problems.

Lt. Gov. Green’s huge promise is this: “Under no circumstances should any one have to leave Hawaii because they cannot afford a home.”

It’s truly very sad for sure. Billions of dollars have been allocated for housing through the years. Green has been at the State Capitol for 18 years.

Is Green exploiting the plight of residents?

How is Green going to promise a home for every one? He already owes so much to the construction corporations and lobbyists.

Let’s critique this for the sake of conversation and questioning political ads. Decide whether the candidate is honest about this housing issue.

We will critique the cinematography in this 30-seconds political ad.

“Cinematography, the art and technology of motion-picture photography. It involves such techniques as the general composition of a scene; the lighting of the set or location; the choice of cameras, lenses, filters, and film stock; the camera angle and movements; and the integration of any special effects.“

GREEN: “We have a housing crisis in the state of Hawaii, and I have a plan to do something about it. I will make historic investments to build affordable homes for working families so they can stay in Hawaii.”

Stage 1 – This campaign ad has chosen a good-looking couple with a child living in a small unit. They are saying it is very sad that they cannot afford to live in Hawaii.

The video moves to construction workers. There is an insert to lead you to his campaign website.

Another insert of action and activity. And again leading the viewers to Green’s campaign website.

The camera angle is now focused on the young mother’s sad face.

The camera angle moves to a close-up to show tears welling in this young mother’s eyes.

The camera then pulls a distance shot. Note the women are dressed in aloha mu’u mu’u wear. There are people of different ages and races.

This video ends with LG Green promising: “Under no circumstances should any one have to leave Hawaii because they cannot afford a home.”

Is Green manipulating and exploiting the plight and worries of our residents?

Are you moved to vote for him?

  • It’s just as interesting to read the comments in his Facebook page. The first comment is from a Top fan:
  • Top fan Peter Young This is a powerful commercial… congratulations. This is the true Josh Green… honest and caring!
    • Like
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    • 1w
  • Rico Dsvisthe young pope GIFGIPHY
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    • 1w
  • Eberhart Hani What does this mean? You would have to build massive public housing blocs to make even the smallest dent. Is there a way to reduce the cost of building a new house? Can we go back to the single wall construction method of the past? So many of those houses are still standing and being enjoyed after decades of use since the sugar industry days. Would it be better to invest in and import lumber on a large scale? What about fast-tracking ADU’s? What about promoting tiny houses, container houses and yurts? What IS your plan?
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    • 1w
  • David Gilliland The attack on you yesterday was pure political BS you did a brilliantly job as LTG and have both mine and my wife’s vote – GO GREEN!
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    • 1w
  • Ann T. Tutu Going back to the days 30 years ago when there was some government support for small time landlords would be a great improvement because right now as it is with the landlord squatter’s code, There is absolutely no help whatsoever for the poor landlord who’s getting ripped off by a tenant who never pays anything. They know the system and it costs the landlord thousands of dollars to get rid of them and get some income coming again from me from the rental house. Frankly I’m tired of the government building the houses for the homeless let’s go back to the time when things were fair for landlords too.
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    • 1w

Elections 2022: PBS Hawaii Gubernatorial Candidates Forum

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On July 7, 2022, INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAIʻI hosted this Thursday night at 7:30 on PBS Hawai’i and was streamed on Facebook.

There were many questions asked but not all were addressed. Only three candidates were chosen to be on this panel.

Again, this choice was probably based on the amounts of donations that a candidate was able to raise.

Check this program out and form your own opinions.

I tried to ask the questions pertaining to Campaign Finance Reform. Finance is the foundational structure of American politics today.

Unfortunately, not much time was spent in this area. I would have liked to see more probing questions into the campaign finance data and the major donors of candidates.

Lt. Governor Josh Green has been a politician for the last 18 years. Green has maintained a long list of donors. He has a questionable record.

Green’s record shows blatant “PAY TO PLAY” from every angle I look at it.

Upon being elected to the office of Lt. Governor in 2018, Josh Green appointed an official from the same union that donated $1M to him as his Chief of Staff. This is very significant. The Chief of Staff controls the entire operations of the public office.

Green appointed deputy Chief of Staff who was with the Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

The Lt. Governor’s Senior Policy Advisor is from the Insurance sector.


Where does this leave us the ordinary people?

Not allowing all candidates the opportunity to participate in the public dialogue is far from the ideals of a democracy.

What to do? Provide independent citizenship media outlets?

Elections 2022: Campaign Finance Reform can begin with our vote

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The Honolulu Star Advertiser hosted a digital town hall on June 29, 2022 for the top three presumptive gubernatorial candidates – Vicky Cayetano, Josh Green, and Kai Kahele.

Yunji de Nies and Ryan Kalei Tsuji hosted the hour-long program.

For those who did not watch the Star Advertiser Spotlight Forum, I’m highlighting the Campaign Finance Reform issue.

About the 50:00 timeline, Representative Kai Kahele retorted at Lt. Governor Green’s comments about leading by example:

” … for the Lt Gov Green to talk about leading by example, frankly, it’s a joke because his (Green) campaign is funded by hundreds of thousands of dollars by outside mainland donors, corporations, special interests, big pharma, maxed dollar donors , wealthy individuals from the mainland that want to control the economic and political life of this state.”

Green was visibly irritated and quickly responded that he was disappointed by Kahele’s “attack” and it was not appropriate as he (Green) was a “hardworking doctor and Lt. governor “.

Green again implemented the red herring fallacy to distract from his own record and accused Kahele of “sensationalism”. Green proceeded to accusing Kahele’s of donations from indicted Mitsunaga and others.

However, it must be noted that this federal indictment case is very specific. It’s focused on the Honolulu City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro who received donations from Mitsunaga & Associates to prosecute one of Dennis Mitsunaga’s former employee.

Kahele should have brought up Green’s most egregious Pay to Play quid pro quo . The Carpenter’s Union donated about $1M at the last minute to Green in 2018 to edge over Jill Tokuda.

Green in turn dutifully appointed one of its union officials as his Chief of Staff.

Is money buying elections?

Isn’t this a blatant example of PAY TO PLAY?

Green’s action is very significant because the Chief of Staff controls the office of the Lt. Governor and its operations. His Deputy Chief of Staff is from the Healthcare Sector. His Senior Policy Advisor is from the Insurance sector.

I didn’t take it as an “attack” when Kahele highlighted Green’s donations from the mainland interests, unions, maxed out donors, big pharma, and so on.

Candidates cannot run away nor be offended by their own record. The Public has every right to question and raise concerns to hold the candidate accountable.

This is why Campaign Finance Reform is so critical. If this cancer is not controlled, candidates who are willing to play along with special interests groups will continue to receive donations. With these big donations, candidates are able to hire staff for their campaign, pay for expensive social media, television ads and so forth.

Candidates can literally reinvent themselves with sophisticated media propaganda and manipulated narratives for their desired outcome. The Status Quo continues.

Voters may feel outgunned and overwhelmed by campaign finance concerns. But elections are won vote by vote.

Voters have the power. Voters can make a conscious choice to boycott candidates with big donations from special interests.

Voters also need not feel the pressure to tell any one who they voted for.

Happy 4th of July!

Elections 2022: Finance Reform to prevent Big Money buying elections

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It’s best to read into each candidate. Those with money can swarm the airwaves with 30-seconds soundbites to reinvent themselves as candidates of change. Money is buying elections.

People need to be reminded about this candidate. Past behavior is a good predicator of future actions.

West Hawaii Today reported this on December 6, 2018.

” HONOLULU — Lt. Gov. Josh Green has appointed a former carpenters’ union official to be his chief of staff months after a super PAC funded by the union spent over $1 million supporting his candidacy in the Democratic Party primary.

Brooke Wilson most recently served as political and education director for the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters. She’s the only incoming staff member from the carpenters’ union. “

Ko’olauloa has another major water break today, again.

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Another water pipe burst happened again! This time it was a little more harrowing than just disrupting lives and creating property damages. The infrastructure on this side of the island is aging and maintenance is lacking.

Photo by M Kehau Kamaks. Punalu’u
Photo by Kehau Kamaks: M Kehau Kamaks

” The aunty is safe. No one else was in the car. She was a little in shock but my brother pulled her out right before her car went into the hole.”

Ko’olauloa residents are always at the best helping each other. Here is a conversation from Facebook:

Georgieann Kahawaii Vave HUGE HUGE HUGE HUGE HUGE MAHALO TO whomever helped my mom out of her car. MY OHANA & I MAHALO YOU! 🥺🥺🥺❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🥰🥰

Photo by Kehau Kamaks

Patsy Takemoto Mink honored on June 23, 2022

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You can see the beautiful lean Patsy Takemoto Mink monument outside the Hawaiʻi State Library. This ceremony marked the 50th anniversary of the landmark Title IX legislation (1972) that Mink championed.

statue with lei
Patsy T. Mink monument outside of the Hawaii State Library

Although Title IX is often referred to in sports, it also opened the doors to all student in other areas. It forces fairness of gender in recruitment, financial aid, admissions, housing, and athletics. Mink co-authored Title IX using the big stick to ban U.S. schools and universities from receiving federal funds if they were involved in discrimination.

woman speaking
 Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Associate Justice Sabrina McKenna sharing her gratitude
to benefiting from Title IX.

Photos from UH News

Elections 2022: Honolulu City Council District 2 has five candidates

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First term 2018-2022 City Councilwoman Heidi Tsuneyoshi has chosen to run for Governor instead of running for a second term at Honolulu Hale.

City Council Candidates for Elections 2022

It’s interesting to note that Chad Tsuneyoshi, the husband of present City Councilmember Heidi Tsuneyoshi, filed to run for the same office at the very last minute. The couple recently underwent a divorce. However, political cynics question if this was a convenience for the gubernatorial candidate to not have to address any further background questions relating to Chad Tsuneyoshi’s past criminal record.

A question of his filing is whether Chad Tsuneyoshi thinks he could capitalize on the name recognition in Council District 2. Incumbent politicians always have a huge advantage in re-elections due to name recognition unless there is a huge monumental scandal or corruption. (However, incumbent CM Heidi Tsuneyoshi, has made some very troublesome decisions as the District 2 council member.)

Here is some information about Chad Tsuneyoshi from public records.

Apparently, Chad Tsuneyoshi has been working very hard with political campaigns, including Ernie Martin, Charles Djou, Trevor Ozawa, his wife’s city council campaign in 2018 and perhaps other candidates.’

Editor Andrew Walden from Hawaii Free Press described Chad Tsuneyoshi as such:

“Convicted cocaine dealer Chad Tsuneyoshi is taking over as Honolulu Council Chair Ernie Martin’s Campaign Treasurer. “

My own personal experiences with the Chad and Heidi Tsuneyoshi were from my city council campaign in 2018. Chad Tsuneyoshi was managing his wife’s campaign.

We had one of the more nasty campaigns that included anonymous negative attacks through USPO mailings and email, stolen and vandalized political banners, mass facebook messaging behind our backs, social media trolls injecting fabricated rumours and smears in conversations, and so on.

This was a period that had one of those “in your face” tactics that everybody could logically guess which campaign camp the perpetrators were from. But nobody had the time or resources to get to the bottom of it.

UGLY TACTICS

CIVIL BEAT: ” Envelopes sent with no return address arrived at homes across north Oahu this summer. Inside were flyers criticizing the political record of Robert “Bobby” Bunda, one of four candidates in the Honolulu City Council District 2 race.

Dave Burlew, a Kahuku farmer also running for the seat, was shocked to receive one of these letters and even more surprised to find “VOTE DAVE BURLEW FOR CITY COUNCIL!!” at the bottom of the flyer along with his P.O. box number.

“That’s when it got ugly,” Burlew said.

Burlew said he does not know who is responsible for the flyers. Heidi Tsuneyoshi and Choon James, the two other candidates in the race, also say they have no knowledge of where the letters come from. “

Logic told us that Robert Bunda could not be the person to smear himself. Dave Burlew and I (Choon James) were friends with similar values. Both of us knew 100% we did not do that. So, who was left?

Unite Local 5 which endorsed Robert Bunda in 2018 had this to say:

“July 2018 – Some may disagree with our support of Bobby Bunda, and that’s ok. But we’re confident Bobby is the best candidate for Council District 2.

Bobby has never shied away from criticism, but he has also been subject to a series of unfair, illegal and anonymous mailers that do not reflect the values of our hard working families in District 2. The sender of these mailers want you to believe they came from Dave Burlew, another candidate in the race, but he sent a statement to the State Campaign Spending Commission saying he had nothing to do with the mailers.

Before you vote, or even if you have already voted, you should know the whole truth behind each candidate. Google search Heidi Tsuneyoshi, Dave Burlew, Choon James and Bobby Bunda and start learning the facts. Also, ask yourself which candidate has enough money to pay for an expensive mass mailing campaign and stands to gain the most from attacking Bobby Bunda? “

Tsuneyoshi’s Donations for her City Council race included these:

Heidi Tsuneyoshi was one of the very few selected candidates who received donations from indicted organized crime boss Michael Miske. Tsuneyoshi did not respond to Civil Beat’s request for comment.

Tsuneyoshi also received $31,950 from Mitsunaga & Associates whose principals have recently been indicted along with City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro for charges of conspiracy and bribery practices.

2022 Hawaii Elections

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Today is the Deadline for Filling to run for office. The Office of Elections currently has a list of candidates who have taken out nominations issued to them. But not every one has filed to complete the papers by today June 7, 2022 4:30 pm.

We have not heard any last-minute controversies of having signatures rejected that would disqualify a candidate.

It’s said that generally when there are a large amounts of candidates, the citizenry are unhappy and unsatisfied with the state of affairs.

The US Congressional Senate position has 19 citizens obtained nomination papers to run for the position currently held by Senator Brian Schatz. Ten candidates have filed their papers.

The US Congressional House Representative position has 10 citizens obtained nomination papers, currently held by Representative Kai Kahele. Seven candidates have filed their nomination papers.

Governor David Ige defeated then 1-term Governor Neil Abercrombie in 2014 and was reelected on 2018. His is term-out this election year.

The Gubernatorial race has 38 obtained nomination papers! There are 19 candidates who have filed by today. They include Duke Aiona, Vicky Cayetano, Josh Green, Kai Kahele and 15 other candidates.

Our District 2 in the Honolulu City Council position has 5 candidates. I will elaborate on this District in my next post.