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Friday, July 6, 2012
Oppose Federal Control of Building Codes? Hanabusa Says You Must be Shunned
By Selected News Articles @ 9:37 PM :: 9033 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics

Here are a series of comments on Hanabusa's latest campaign screw up:

  *   *   *   *   *

From www.Djou.com

Last night, my campaign sent an email to you about upcoming volunteer opportunities in which the campaign mentioned that I would be stopping by an event this evening that is being hosted here in Hawaii for Congressman Steve Scalise.

This morning, Congresswoman Hanabusa’s campaign sent the following statement to the media:

"My father taught me that you can tell a lot about a man by who his friends are," said Hanabusa spokesman Richard Rapoza. "Congressman Scalise's vote to end Medicare as we know it, his opposition to the Affordable Care Act, and his denial of global climate change may sit well in his district in Louisiana, but they do not reflect the values of Hawaii voters. I think using Steve Scalise as a fundraising draw speaks volumes about Charles Djou's values, and how little he has in common with our district."

I highlight this for you because I believe that it speaks volumes about what is wrong with our government today. We have tremendous problems facing our nation: a sluggish economy; high unemployment; a $1.2 trillion budget deficit. People are suffering and they are afraid that our beloved nation is headed toward financial disaster.

We need to work together -- Democrats and Republicans. We need to reach out to each other; we need to listen; we need to make tough decisions and compromise when necessary. We cannot allow partisan bickering to define us to the extent that we allow all that is good about our country to be destroyed.

I love this country; I love my family and my children. I do not want to be part of the first generation to leave the next worse off.

If you believe as I do, please help me – talk to your friends and neighbors, put a bumper sticker on your car, a yard sign in your home or business, volunteer your time, or contribute financially to my campaign. Whatever you do, please do not sit on the sidelines when our very future is at stake.

Mahalo,

Charles Djou

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Political Radar Friends:

From Djou’s email newsletter:

2) EVENT WITH CONGRESSMAN SCALISE – Tomorrow, Friday, July 6, from 6pm to 8pm, Charles is joining his former colleague, Congressman Steve Scalise of Louisiana, at the Outrigger Canoe Club in Waikiki. Feel free to come by if you would like to meet Congressman Scalise.

Hanabusa campaign spokesman Richard Rapoza took note of Djou hanging out with a “conservative star,” adding:

“You can tell a lot about a man by who his friends are. Congressman Scalise wants to end Medicare as we know it, repeal the Affordable Care Act, and deny the reality of global climate change. Those radically conservative positions may be okay in his district in Louisiana, but they do not reflect the values of Hawaii voters. I think using Steve Scalise as a fundraising draw speaks volumes about Charles Djou’s values, and how little he has in common with our district.”

  *   *   *   *   *

And pray tell, just what are “Those radically conservative positions”?  If you go to the link Rapoza provided you discover that Congressman Scalise is strongly opposed to a Federal Takeover of … (Drumroll please) … Local Building Codes.  According to Hanabusa’s campaign, if you associate with any Congressman who thinks local building codes should not fall under Federal control in the name of fighting Global Worming (sp?), you should be shunned.

Here is the article Rapoza linked to:

The House Energy and Commerce Committee continued its ongoing debate and discussion about the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act (HR 2454). The act would cut greenhouse emissions by 17 percent over the next 11 years and by 83 percent by midcentury in an attempt to slow manmade climate change.

In an interesting turn of events during the debate yesterday, Congressman Steve Scalise (R-LA) issued a warning saying, “we’re setting up a global warming Gestapo.” The comment was made in reference to Section 201 of the act which establishes a national building code. Under that code, the Secretary of Energy would have the power to assess civil penalties for buildings that do not meet the new code.

Watch video of Rep. Scalise's comments below

Scalise described a situation where a home that was destroyed by a natural disaster was rebuilt but with superior material than were dictated by the new national building code. According to Scalise, the homeowner would be in violation of federal law, even if the material exceeded the federal standard.

Now living in your home is considered unlawful under this bill.
~ Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA)

"The federal government can come in and inspect your house and send you the bill. And if they find that you’re out of compliance with this new federal code, 'The Secretary shall assess a civil penalty for violations of this section,'" Scalise said. "Now living in your home is considered unlawful under this bill. This is ludicrous."

Taking his argument a step further, Scalise called into question the very constitutionality of the measure. He reminded his fellow congressmen that the 10th Amendment to the Constitution says, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to states respectively or to the people.”

This bill comes in and basically says throw out the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
~ Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA)

By creating its own enforcement measures and own building code that will usurp those which states have already established, the act stands to violate the Constitution. Scalise said, "This bill comes in and basically says throw out the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the federal government’s gonna throw out your building code."

Section 201 of the measure is being opposed by the National Association of Home Builders, the National Association of Realtors, the Building Owners and Managers Association International, the National Apartment Association as well as a number of other related organizations. They warn that the new authority the federal government grants themselves could make homeowners liable for their homes not meeting the new standards. The chilling effect of this is that the ‘global warming Gestapo’ Rep. Scalise warns about could drag you into federal court.

Video: Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) expresses concern over enforcement measures in the cap-and-tax bill

BTW: How many plumbers, electricians, and other Building Trades union jobs depend on certain requirements carefully written into local building codes all over the USA?  Why is Hanabusa trying to put all these union workers out of a job?

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