Puppy mill case finale disappoints

It’s hard to argue with Hawaiian Humane Society President Pam Burns when she lamented after Wednesday’s sentencing in the Waimanalo puppy mill case: "Justice was not served. It really felt as though Bradley International and their officers got away with it."

Bradley is the now-defunct company that pleaded no contest in December to 153 counts of animal cruelty after emaciated dogs were found at its Waimanalo facility in February 2010.

On Wednesday, it was ordered to pay $685,100 — but because the company dissolved (and individual officers were legally elusive to charge), it pled no assets. This, despite Hawaii Revised Statutes 414-385, which notes: "Dissolution of a corporation does not … abate or suspend a proceeding pending by or against the corporation on the effective date of dissolution."

Even the prosecutor’s reasonable request that the court prohibit Bradley officers from operating other animal ventures failed to stick.

Sometimes, it’s harder than it looks to bring law breakers to heel.

Sugar is popular, taxes not so much

A spoonful of sugar isn’t always enough to make the medicine go down, it seems — especially if the medicine means giving up lots of sugar.

State Sen. Josh Green could see that the public will wasn’t there to pass a bill assessing a tax on sugary drinks, so he shelved it Wednesday.

Instead, the Health Committee chairman is aiming for a task force to deal with the issue.

Are people ever likely to accept a tax on all the goodies that aren’t so good for us? Fat chance.