GOVERNOR LINGLE RESPONDS TO SENATORS' CRITICISM OF CIRCUIT COURT CONFERENCE
News Release from www.Lingle2012.com
HONOLULU - Former Mayor of Maui and Governor of Hawaii Linda Lingle, candidate for Hawaii's open U.S. Senate seat, today called on Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to back off on their criticism of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals' decision to hold its conference on the Island of Maui and their suggestion that the conference be cancelled.
"It is certainly a U.S. Senator's job, indeed their responsibility, to oversee and monitor government spending and I commend you for that. But an event such as the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals' conference planned on the Island of Maui in the State of Hawaii is usually booked years in advance and many people and businesses will be hurt if it is cancelled," Lingle told the senators in a letter she sent to them today.
"While I agree with your description of Hawaii as an ‘island paradise,' your characterization of Hawaii as ‘the most expensive and far-flung island paradise within the Circuit' is a mischaracterization of the great value offered by Hawaii's hotels," the former Mayor of Maui and Governor of Hawaii wrote to the two senators. Lingle was referring to comments the senators made in a letter sent yesterday to the Chief Judge of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
"Hawaii falls into the court's jurisdiction, and the many people who work in Maui's visitor industry - including front office managers, bellmen, parking attendants, chefs, cooks, housekeepers, wait staff, groundskeepers and others - should not suffer the loss of work because a long-planned conference such as this is cancelled," her letter continued.
"I know you both are acting in what you believe is the best interest of the country by making sure tax dollars are well spent, and I respect you for doing so. But because I am concerned for the well-being of the people of Hawaii, I felt it was important for me to speak up and let you know that mischaracterizations of our visitor industry or the cancellation of this conference would negatively impact real people," Governor Lingle concluded.
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