Senate Going Paperless

During the 2008 legislative session , the Hawaii State Senate will embark on a new paper reduction initiative to limit the amount of paper consumed during the legislative process. This project is part of the Senate's push for a "sustainable" future for Hawaii. All bills, testimonies, and hearing notices will now be converted to electronic documents to assist in the State's overall effort reduce waste and conserve natural resources.

State Senator David Ige, chair of the Health Committee, is one of the leaders in Senate's "paperless" initiative. Entering his 22nd year of public service, Senator Ige has continuously promoted the use of current technology to reach out and make the legislative process more accessible to the general public.

During the 2007 session, the Senate generated more than 4.375 million copies which consumed 22 tons of paper at a cost of about $31,000, roughly the equivalent of 525 mature trees. With the rising cost of paper and in an effort be more environmentally, each state senator has been issued a laptop where to access electronic documents and legislation electronically instead of carrying the binders and files into session.

Town Meeting:

Pearl City/ Aiea Town Meeting

There will be a town meeting with State Legislators from Pearl City and Aiea on Wednesday, February 20, 2008, regarding cyber crime. An informational presentation by the Hawaii Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will brief residents how to protect themselves from cyber criminals. Senator Ige along with colleagues, Senators Donna Mercado Kim, Clarence Nishihara and Norman Sakamoto along with Representatives Blake Oshiro, K. Mark Takai, and Roy Takumi are sponsoring the event. For more information, please contact the office of Senator Ige at 808-586-6230.

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Posted at 3:08 PM | Permalink

Opening Day 2008!

The opening of the 2008 State Legislature will be held on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at the Hawaii State Capitol. Friends, family, and constituents of Senator David Ige are invited to come by the capitol and join in the opening day festivities. This year, the Senate and House will be honoring the University of Hawaii's 2007 fall sports teams. Members of the Wahine volleyball, soccer and football team will be honored in the Rotunda at noon. Guests are encouraged to come by to help celebrate UH athletics and join Senator Ige and his office staff for food and fellowship following the ceremonies.

Happy New Years!

Senator Ige and his family would like to wish everyone a happy new year. This year, a lot of changes will be happening in the Senate. The entire Senate will be going through a major initiative that would cut back on the amount of paper used during the session by going "paper-less" and having all the information including hearing notices and bills saved and sent through digital communication via email. Stay tuned for more updates on the upcoming legislative session. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Posted at 1:52 PM | Permalink