By B.J. Reyes

United States Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D, Nevada) has made his recommendations for committee chairmanships for the incoming Congress.

No surprises for Hawaii’s two senators.

Sen. Dan Inouye, as reported previously, is ascending to the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, while his colleague, Sen. Dan Akaka will continue as chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

“We have much work to do and many challenges facing our nation,” Reid said in a news release. “I know that these senators will be able to deliver on the change that the American people have called for to help move our country in the right direction.”

A complete list of chairmanships can be found here.

Reid’s recommendations go to the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee. Final approval will be ratified with an Organizing Resolution when the Senate returns to session in January.  Committee membership and ratios have yet to be resolved.

By B.J. Reyes

Details about the upcoming inaugural are slowing coming out the the Presidential Inauguration Committee.

The PIC today announced the theme of the week’s events: “Renewing America’s Promise.”

“At this moment of great challenge and great change, renewing the promise of America begins with renewing the idea that in America, we rise or fall as one nation and one people,“ President-elect Barack Obama said in a news release.  “That sense of unity and shared purpose is what this Inauguration will reflect.“

The committee also released a preliminary schedule of events, with further details to come later:

Sunday, Jan. 18
Welcome event open to the public.

Monday, Jan. 19  – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
To honor Dr. King’s legacy, Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden and their families to participate in activities dedicated to serving others in communities across the Washington, D.C. area.

Tuesday, Jan. 20 – Inauguration Day
Obama, Biden and their families to participate in the traditional inaugural ceremonies and events, including the swearing-in ceremony on the West Front of the United States Capitol, a luncheon in the Capitol’s Statuary Hall, the 56th Inaugural Parade and official Inaugural Balls.

Wednesday, Jan. 21
Obama and Biden to participate in a prayer service.

By B.J. Reyes

While some events–including the sold-out Hawaii Inaugural Ball–await word on whether they will be officially sanctioned by the Presidential Inaugural Committee, now comes word that it may not matter.

Sanctioning basically means that the PIC will include your ball on the official schedule of events and purportedly recommend to the newly sworn-in president that he make an appearance. It doesn’t mean the president will show up.

Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times reports the PIC will not be sanctioning any events organized by outside groups, “because the Obama team–which swore off corporate money for the festivities surrounding the Jan. 20 swearing-in–does not want to be officially linked with events paid for with money President elect Barack Obama said he would not take.”

Read her full blog post here.

Meanwhile, word came last week that the Punahou marching band and the school’s JROTC program were invited to take part in the inaugural parade.

Organizers said a record 1,382 organizations submitted applications to participate.

A list of organizations invited to date can be found here.

By B.J. Reyes

Tacked on at the end of a news release from the Democratic Party of Hawaii was this line from Executive Director Chuck Freedman:

“For your information, as of December 1st I am no longer the executive director for the party.  I will continue to direct communications work for the party.”

^^Chuck Freedman, left, and Andy Winer, coordinator of the Obama Hawaii campaign (photo from hawaiiforobama.org)

Freedman, who was named to the post in September, said the position will be vacant “for awhile” as the party moves forward and gears up for the 2010 elections.

“Both the local party and the Democratic National Committee really don’t have the funds for a director,” he said. “As happens after a campaign, the money slows down a little bit and you’ve spent money on the campaign so we’ll be without an executive director here for awhile.”

Freedman, who along with state Democratic Party Chairman Brian Schatz co-founded the Hawaii Draft Obama campaign, called it a natural progression.

“In a nutshell, it’s what happens after campaigns,” he said. “You’ve spent your money to run the campaign and now it’s a process — both for Democratic National Committee and for the local party — to begin to raise money and build up for the next campaign. So we’re just in that part of the cycle.”

Freedman, worked for former Lt. Gov. Jean King and served in the administration of former Gov. John Waihee as the director of communications. He also served previously as a vice president of corporate relations for Hawaiian Electric Industries and last year as administrative service manager for Rep. Kirk Caldwell.

By B.J. Reyes

Former congressman and state representative Ed Case has mostly laid low since losing his bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka two years ago.

Now it looks like he’s ready to jump back into the political fray.

But which office? You can help him decide.

In his latest e-mail newsletter, and on his Web site, Case has set up a survey soliciting input on whether he should run for congress or governor in 2010. The survey also allows you to pick “undecided” or “other.”

Click here to go to the survey.

“We’d all like to take a break from elections before we focus on 2010,” Case says in the newsletter. “The reality, though, is that public discussion is well underway and some candidates have already announced. I’ve been asked repeatedly for my own plans. With your input, I want to complete my decision and reach out to Hawaii’s voters again with my candidacy.”

Already, U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie has discussed the possibility of a gubernatorial run in 2010, even encouraging speculation about his political future.Others who might be interested in succeeding Gov. Linda Lingle are Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona, Democratic Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann.

Case served four terms in the state House before an unsuccessful run for governor in 2002. Later that year, he won a special election to fill the congressional seat of Patsy Mink, who died a week after winning in the September primary and then was re-elected posthumously.

By B.J. Reyes

For anyone who wants to get in the holiday spirit ahead of the annual Honolulu City Lights opening Saturday, the state House of Representatives and the Hawaii Foodbank have just the thing.

It’s a free Christmas concert at the state Capitol.

The three-hour show is set for 6 p.m.,  Friday in the state Capitol auditorium.

Entertainers scheduled to perform include Patrick Koh, The Krush, Tradewinds, Angeli Callo, Pacific Heights, The Inspirations, Earl Stuckey, Norlita Yere, Arshiel Calatrava and others.

Admission is free, but organizers ask that you bring a donation of canned goods or non-perishable items “to put food on the tables of our keiki, friends, families and neighbors.”