“I am very glad the Akaka Bill will be amended to reflect the State’s concerns,” Governor Lingle stated.  “I have assured Senators Akaka and Inouye that I will strongly support a bill with the changes described above, and will write to Senators of both parties expressing my support.  I sincerely hope the bill will become law in 2010.”

Last December, Neil Abercrombie passed a previous immunity-free version of the Akaka Bill as a Trojan Horse to get through the House Committee on Natural Resources.  He then amended the bill by substitution on the House floor.  Would Akaka pass a no-immunity version through the Senate and then use the House-Senate Conference Committee to change it back?  Of course he would—everything about the underhanded and secretive way the new version of Akaka Bill was created shows that is possible. 

"I am committed to seeing this process through as Governor."

Now, Djou enters a new stage in his political career: embattled incumbent. After easily winning a three-way special election in the more conservative -- but still dang Democratic -- House district in a May 22 special election, Djou enters an abbreviated 2010 reelection campaign as one of a handful of deeply endangered GOP incumbents.

That's just fine with him, and nobody will accuse Djou of being ill-prepared. "The only way I know how to campaign is running a race where I'm down by two points and closing in," he said in a recent interview with the Fix.

Lambda Legal and the ACLU had readied a lawsuit after the House tabled HB 444 in January.   The Hawai`i Senate had previously approved the bill by a veto-proof 18 to 7 majority and sent it back to the House for a conforming vote.

“We’re obviously disappointed that Governor Lingle has, once again, used her power to deny the people of Hawai`i their civil rights” said Laurie Temple, Staff Attorney for the ACLU.  “Luckily for the people of Hawai`i, however, our constitution prevents discrimination based on sexual orientation.  If the Governor won’t honor her oath to uphold the constitution, the courts will.”

“I am very encouraged by the Governor’s veto of HB2377, a bill that would have forced future governors to nominate individuals for the Board of Education from a list submitted by an advisory committee. 

“This bill served only to further fragment the leadership and accountability in Hawai‘i’s education system.  As I have stated for years, much of Hawai‘i’s public education challenges arise because there is no clear line of accountability between the Board of Education, the governor and the legislature." 

“Democrat legislators pushed to bring this bill back to life on the last day of the legislative session, but where are those arrogant legislators today?  Speaker Calvin Say is afraid to call a special session because his unstable rule over the House of Representatives is in jeopardy and he wants to avoid an attempt by dissident Democrats to overthrow him."

When Linda O’Boyle was diagnosed with bowel cancer, her doctors told her she could boost her chances of survival by adding the drug cetuximab to her regimen. But the rationing body for Britain's National Health Service, the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), had previously ruled that the drug was not cost-effective and therefore would not be paid for by the government. So O'Boyle liquidated her savings and paid for the drug herself. But this is not allowed under NHS rules. When government bureaucrats found out that O'Boyle had purchased the drug with her own money, she was denied NHS treatment and died within months.

We are truly grateful for Gov. Linda Lingle’s veto today of HB 444. Her decision came after a thoughtful and balanced study of the bill and its consequences and we are convinced she has come to the proper and only conclusion that will best serve the people of Hawaii.

Her veto affirms the will of Hawaii citizens. In 1998, seventy percent of Hawaii voters ratified a constitutional amendment limiting marriage to one man or one woman. A 2009 survey by SMS Research found that 66 percent agreed with that vote more than a decade later.

"As I have always said, this issue will persist as long as lawmakers continue to keep the public from deciding whether marriage should be between a man and a woman.  

"If elected Governor, I will propose a constitutional amendment on this issue so the people can define marriage once and for all."

Now that the governor has decided the fate of House Bill 444, I firmly support steps to let the people of Hawaii have the final say on an issue that has generated passionate perspectives. 

But in the end, it wasn’t the persuasiveness of public debates, the soundness of legal arguments, or the volume of letters and emails that convinced me to reach this decision. It was the depth of emotion felt by those on both sides of the issue that revealed to me how fundamental the institution of marriage is to our community. It is as fundamental to those who support marriage between two people of the same gender as it is to those who support marriage only between one man and one woman.

This is a decision that should not be made by one person sitting in her office or by members of the Majority Party behind closed doors in a legislative caucus, but by all the people of Hawaii behind the curtain of the voting booth.       

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle today vetoed 32 bills that would adversely impact Hawai‘i residents and businesses, would be detrimental to public policy and would hinder efforts to expand the economy and create jobs.

Governor Lingle will announce the bills she is vetoing at a news conference at 3PM in Executive Chambers.  Meanwhile Hawaii Family Forum today sent out an email message stating: “We are hearing that members of the House are getting strong pressure from proponents to hold a special session.” 

Speaker Calvin Say announced today that the House will not convene a Special Session to override any of the Governor’s VETOs. Unless both houses agree to meet there can be no special session and there will be none on July 6. Praise the Lord! Now the decision rests squarely with the Governor.

Therefore, we will not be gathering at 9:00 a.m. to fill the House gallery but instead, will gather for prayer on the fifth floor, at noon in front of the Governor’s office, regardless of her decision.

Remember 9/11. Remember Katrina. Remember Haiti. Often, after a disaster of epic proportions, we are urged to remember the victims and the lessons of how to avoid a similar catastrophe. These reminders are necessary because after the moment of impact passes, people’s attention is drawn to other major events. Rarely ever, however, is the phrase used while the crisis continues unabated; while the administration that the media needs to hold accountable flounders in a sea of ineptitude, red tape and finger pointing.

Yes, we’re talking about the Gulf oil spill. It may be the first time in U.S. history that a president and the national media’s attention need to be refocused on a crisis while it is still, in fact, underway. Remember the Gulf.

Koko Head Elementary School--Kaimuki High School--Noelani Elementary School--McKinley High School

The American experiment with democracy began 234 years ago with the enduring words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Those words remain a profound statement of our natural rights. And to this day, the United States of America is the freest and most prosperous nation in the world. The success of our nation is a testament to the timeless vision of our Founding Fathers.

The people of Hawai`i want our state to be more self-sufficient; they want to be more independent.

I believe that to be a true leader, innovation, entrepreneurship and stewardship need to be fostered, nurtured and rewarded.

It is not enough to encourage today’s citizens and businesses to innovate and think big. Public officials have to do the same.

The American Dream is based upon our liberty and opportunity to flourish. It is the hope of all to build a prosperous future, and we can achieve it right here in these islands.

As a practical matter, the Declaration of Independence publicly announced to the world the unanimous decision of the American colonies to declare themselves free and independent states, absolved from any allegiance to Great Britain. But its greater meaning-then as well as now-is as a statement of the conditions of legitimate political authority and the proper ends of government, and its proclamation of a new ground of political rule in the sovereignty of the people.

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle has released $10,000,000 to the University of Hawai‘i for renovations to Hawai‘i Community College’s Manono Campus in East Hawai‘i and development of the University of Hawai‘i Center at West Hawai‘i’s new campus at Palamanui.

Once again Hawaii may be saved from the immune-from-prosecution rump Akaka Tribe by Republican US Senators from other states.  With Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) dead and buried, and sometime Akaka Bill supporter Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) facing strong opposition in the August 24 Alaska GOP Primary, Sen Akaka finds himself short on votes and short on time.   

Fiscal Year 2011 started yesterday in most states, and some saw the imposition of tax increases passed in previous legislative sessions. Hawaii, of course, is among them. The Aloha State, already sporting the nation's sixth-highest per capita tax burden, decided to ignore its overspending problem and steal more money from the private sector.

The tax increases implemented yesterday include...

You and I have a great opportunity to help usher in the next generation of leaders to represent Hawai`i in Washington, D.C. We have worked together to help Charles Djou reach victory and now we have a second chance to win the other district (District 2-Rural Oahu and Neighbor Islands) with my friend, Ramsay Puanani Wharton.

Events in MAKAWAO, HILO, WAIMEA, WAIKOLOA, KONA .... 

When families around our state woke up this morning, they were met with reports in the newspaper, on television and on radio about the new legislation which takes effect today, the vast majority of which are new taxes and fees on Hawai‘i residents. 

Washington, DC — Congressman Charles K. Djou (HI-01) issued the following statement after signing on as an original co-sponsor to H.R. 5658, the “Securing Knowledge, Innovation, and Leadership (SKIL) Act,” a bill that would make it easier to attract and keep the best minds from around the world....

I am writing to request that you veto HB2377 HD3 SD2 CD1, a bill that would force future governors to nominate individuals for the Board of Education (BOE) from a list of individuals submitted by an advisory committee as it would damage attempts to bring accountability to Hawai`i's education system.

As you have noted on many occasions, the leadership in Hawai`i's education system is fragmented between the BOE, the governor and the legislature. I was supportive of the constitutional amendment that passed that would make the BOE a governor appointed board. It was a positive step that would make the governor more accountable for the performance of education.

However, whatever good the constitutional amendment would accomplish was completely undermined by HB2377 HD3 SD2 CD1, the enabling legislation for that constitutional amendment.

If elected Governor, Duke Aiona will call for a comprehensive, independent audit of the State Department of Education (DOE), which has not been independently examined since 1973.

Following the results of the audit, Duke Aiona will direct the most effective restructuring of our public education system in a generation.

The Obama Administration announced earlier today that:

“As in any military operation, the ability of U.S. forces to operate effectively in Afghanistan depends on affording the Commander in Chief the utmost flexibility and discretion.  If the final bill presented to the President contains provisions that would undermine his ability as Commander in Chief to conduct military operations in Afghanistan, the President’s senior advisors would recommend a veto.”

For months the now-defunct AtomicMonkey.blogspot.com site has skewered Neil Abercrombie as a “flailing gasbag” and his wife Nancie Caraway as “a witch.”  One posting portrayed former Governor Ben Cayetano as an evil scientist secretly controlling Abercrombie’s brain.  Now the Hannemann campaign has admitted that this site was operated by “a campaign volunteer” who works at Honolulu Hale.

A June 21 Gubernatorial race poll showing Duke Aiona leading Mufi Hannemann by four points apparently set off a panicked frenzy of activity in the Star-Advertiser newsroom—but readers of the print edition would have no way of knowing....

Tarrant Group came out with a poll June 21 showing Aiona in the lead over Hannemann.  So Rasmussen paired questions about Aiona with questions about no-name GOP candidates such as John Roco running against Inouye in a poll rushed out three days later.  This linkage with no-name candidates—especially in a robo-call format--creates a pattern in the answers and depresses the Aiona numbers, thus stacking the poll and giving the Democrat Case family mouthpiece the results it wants.

Washington, DC — Congressman Charles K. Djou (HI-01) issued the following statement regarding his vote on the Conference Report for H.R. 4173, the so-called “Restoring American Financial Stability Act:”

“While I was lobbied extensively by mainland special interests, the opinions that I cared about most were those of my constituents. The responses I received from businesses and residents in my district were nearly unanimous: this bill will hurt Hawaii. I have consistently said Hawaii comes first and I will not support a bill that hurts Hawaii."

"All of the reliable and historically accurate data that we have seen shows a tight race for Governor."

Washington, DC — Congressman Charles K. Djou (HI-01) has continued to lead a push in Congress to enact a languishing free trade agreement with the Republic of Korea. A week ago, Congressman Djou signed onto a bipartisan letter that was sent to the President, which affirms President Obama’s goal to double U.S. exports over the next five years and to promote U.S. trade with key allies.

"This year's Fourth of July Spectacular is a great opportunity for the public to join with Soldiers and their families for a day of food, fun and entertainment, and also to celebrate one of our nation's most important holidays," said Col. Douglas S. Mulbury, commander, USAG-HI. "Not only does the event give us an opportunity to get together and have fun, it also provides us an opportunity to collectively reflect on the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform, and their commitment to preserving the freedom and independence we enjoy today."

Four years after kicking homeless families out of Ala Moana Beach Park leaving them with nowhere to go during one of the worst rainy seasons in recent memory, Mayor Mufi Hannemann is now holding a forum on homelessness. 

It’s about time the Mayor stepped up – even though it’s evident that he is only doing so because he is running for Governor.

“Having served in the U.S. Congress, I've seen the need for balanced leadership in government, at every level. Lynn Finnegan is an experienced, tested leader with 8 years of the State Legislature under her belt,” said former Congresswoman Saiki.  “Her valuable perspective from inside the House Chambers as the House Minority Leader will be a tremendous help to Duke Aiona as the Aiona-Finnegan team works to lead our state into the future. Lynn Finnegan has my full backing in her bid for Lt. Governor of the State of Hawai‘i.”

Washington- After coming under fire for their failure to pass a budget, House Democrats are now looking to pass off a ‘deeming resolution’ as a real fiscal blueprint. This leaves Hawaii families wanting to know: Does Colleen Hanabusa support this deceitful plan? After already rubber-stamping a failed trillion-dollar stimulus, one would think that House Democrats would be more concerned with getting the economy back on track before the midterm elections. Instead, they have continued to give the green-light to the same big-spending, big-government policies that are responsible for driving the economy off the cliff.

"If you believe in conservative local values, I want you to run for public office," implores Jonah Kaauwai, chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party.

Washington, DC — Congressman Charles K. Djou (HI-01) issued the following statement in response to the Administration’s announcement over the weekend at the G20 Summit in Toronto that it would push for the free trade agreement with the Republic of Korea currently languishing in Congress to be enacted....

...Theodore Olson didn’t acknowledge much less attempt to discredit any of this information. Instead, he simply pointed his finger at his close-minded, bigoted conservative colleagues and declared that “there is no good reason why we should deny marriage to same-sex partners.”

This time last year, Colleen Hanabusa's Washington friends rubber-stamped a job-killing national energy tax that would increase costs on everything from electricity bills to groceries. While it’s not surprising that the out-of-touch Democrat majority would vote for tax-increasing legislation, this one is particularly egregious. According to the Department of Treasury’s own admission, the national energy tax could pile on an additional $1,761 in new taxes to struggling middle-class families. This begs the question: Would Hanabusa have supported the national energy tax?

HONOLULU – Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. has announced that a training program aimed at placing more family physicians on the Neighbor Islands will get funded in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

When leaders of the Hawaii Business Roundtable June 4 sent a letter to Governor Lingle calling on her to veto HB444, mainland homosexual activists swung into action, dispatching two operatives to Hawaii.   They are now pretending to have scored a victory. 

The Case family’s Star-Advertiser headline trumpets: “Group backtracks on civil unions”.  Case family ally Pierre Omidyar’s Civil Beat purports to explain: “Why the Roundtable Quieted Its Civil Unions Storm.”

The mis-named Human Rights Campaign cheers as “Hawaii Business Roundtable Revises Call For Veto of Civil Unions Bill.” 

But if one looks more closely, the revision is the opposite of what all of these gay marriage advocates make it seem. 

The Jones Act was an issue in the May 22 House special election in Hawaii: Both Republican winner Charles Djou and one of his two Democratic opponents charged that it benefited a handful of ship lines and unions at the expense of ordinary Hawaiians. Mr. Djou is preparing a bill to exempt Hawaii. If FedEx can move cargo across the country in European-made Airbuses, why can't a boat built in, say, Canada, ship wheat from Los Angeles to Honolulu? The Jones Act lobby crushed the last attempt at reform back in the 1990s.  May the next one meet with more success.

GO TO THE STATE CAPITOL ON JULY 6 TO OPPOSE ANY OVERRIDE OF HB 444. We are asking everyone to be there by 12:00 noon and stay as long as you can. Wear your white shirts and red iVOTE buttons!

Charles Djou's victory in May showed the nation that Republicans are alive and well Hawaii.  Our single page, valued-based platform defines and unifies us the Republican values of Liberty, Limited Government, Individual Responsibility, Fiscal Accountability and Equality of Opportunity.  Now is the time to take action....