Takai decides public scrutiny even less important than hearings

by Blake Parsons, Executive Director, Hawaii Republican Party, October 24, 2014

Mark Takai, who in 2014 failed to attend every hearing (or even vote) in three committees that he's assigned - House Tourism Committee, Higher Education Committee and Education Committee - has skipped out on another opportunity for the voters of Hawaii's First Congressional District to hear from him by refusing to appear on KHVH-AM with Rick Hamada. Every major candidate for Governor and CD1 has agreed to appear for a live, one-hour interview - except Mark Takai.

Voting records show it is apparent the only thing the people of Hawaii can count on Mark Takai to continue doing is to raise taxes on everything from groceries to pensions.

Takai has already said he can't "carry the cooler" for Hawaii, so how can we expect him to juggle pressing issues like a burgeoning national debt, expanding free-trade agreements with Asia-Pacific partners, or guiding the federal government to live within its means?

Charles Djou has already proven that he can "carry the cooler," work across party lines to get things done, actually attend committee hearings on Hawaii's behalf, and support legislation that is going to lower the cost of living for working families. If we can't expect Takai to take his job seriously in Honolulu, then we have no hope that he can be the leader we need thousands of miles away in Washington, D.C.

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