A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral. - Little Prince If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared. - Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli, The Prince

1. V.V.V.V.V.
Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici
By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe
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BILL WOULD GIVE LAWMAKERS CONTROL OVER AUDITOR'S PAYCHECK
The State Auditor continues to be a target of legislative leaders
By Kevin Dayton, Honolulu Civil Beat, January 27, 2021
<https://www.civilbeat.org/2021/01/bill-would-give-lawmakers-control-over-auditors-paycheck/>
A bill that would empower the Legislature to set the salary of the State Auditor has been co-
introduced by House Speaker Scott Saiki and Democratic Majority Leader Della Au Belatti in
what may be another sign that State Auditor Les Kondo has fallen from favor.
By law the auditor's salary cannot be changed during the auditor's eight-year term of office.
However, House Bill 354 would allow the Legislature to set the salary of the auditor.
NOTE SUPPLIED: HB 354 <https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=354&year=2021>
Saiki did not respond to a request for comment, but he has already announced plans to
establish a panel to review the auditor's office, citing concerns about missed deadlines and
“unnecessary litigation.” The group that will assess the auditor's office will include former
U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and former state Office of Finance Director Wes Machida. It will
be led by former Honolulu City Auditor Edwin Young.
NOTE SUPPLIED: “Hawaii House Speaker Launches Probe Of State Auditor - House Speaker Scott Saiki said
late and unfinished reports could be cause for lawmakers to remove state Auditor Les Kondo” By Stewart Yerton,
Honolulu Civil Beat, January 20, 20214 <https://www.civilbeat.org/2021/01/hawaii-house-speaker-launches-probe-of-state-auditor/>
Saiki has also proposed cutting the budget for the state auditor by more than 50%, a move
Kondo said would “basically gut the office.”
NOTE SUPPLIED: “Proposed Budget Cuts Would 'Basically Gut' Hawaii State Auditor's Office - Days after he
ordered an investigation into the office, the House Speaker wants to cut the watchdog agency's budget in half —
far more than any other state agency” By Kevin Dayton, Honolulu Civil Beat, January 23, 2021
<https://www.civilbeat.org/2021/01/proposed-budget-cuts-would-basically-gut-hawaii-state-auditors-office/>
As an organization that is focused on good government, transparency and
accountability, we would like to see the auditors have some measure of leeway in their
job functions. To have these measures introduced just seems kind of suspicious at this
point in time.” The State Auditor should be free to review state offices and programs
without undue influence. To have that kind of influence on an auditor is not good for the
auditor's position, clearly. - Sandy Ma, Executive Director, Common Cause
Our integrity sells for so little, but it is all that we really have.
It is the very last inch of us.
But within that inch, we are free.
The idea of sacrificing your own well-being and your own happiness for the sake of a better world,
no matter what the cost, is incredibly noble.
Sam Ripley – V is for Vendetta