Saiki has empowered the House to be a much-needed political player this year. But concerns about his methods and his ultimate goal are growing.

House and Senate negotiators say they have used federal funds to cancel out most of Gov. Ige’s budget cuts.

Speaker Scott Saiki uses “gut-and-replace” to try to postpone salary increases for state officials, but it’s unclear what the Senate might do.

With just a few weeks left in session, both the House and Senate plan to bail out Hawaii employers and pass some tax increases.

Teamsters, ILWU and Local 5 leaders ask House Speaker Scott Saiki to schedule a floor vote by Wednesday.

The measure would also suspend some excise tax exemptions for various industries to generate extra tax revenue.

The order was designed to reduce jail populations and limit the spread of COVID-19, but infections in jails have stabilized, the court says.

Even after a $1.6 billion federal bailout, a key lawmaker says the state might need more money.

The higher state capital gains tax rates would initially raise more than $57 million extra next year.