Entries for 'News Release'

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....

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.

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....

Washington, DC — Today, the U.S. House passed House Resolution 1464, which recognized the 50^th anniversary of the United States—Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. This resolution, which was initially co-sponsored by former Rep. Neil Abercrombie, was the first piece of legislation passed of which Congressman Charles Djou (HI-01) was an original co-sponsor.

Washington - According to a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, 63 percent of Americans are concerned about keeping the budget deficit down. With such a resounding majority of Americans clamoring to cut spending, this begs the question: Is Democrat candidate Colleen Hanabusa?

(Editors Note: The Judicial Selection Commission has obeyed Hanabusa & OHA’s command and has not included Attorney General Mark Bennett on the nomination list.  This is Bennett’s punishment for upholding the State’s sovereignty in the Ceded Lands case and further evidence that much of the ruling elite in Hawaii is directly at odds with the US Constitution—which is why they seek the Akaka Tribe—to get out from under the Constitution.)

“I am confident that General David Petraeus will bring the necessary skills and vision to ensure a smooth transition in leadership. As we move forward, we must all re-commit ourselves to turning back al-Qaeda and the Taliban. For our men and women in uniform, this will mean continuing their exemplary work. For Congress, and particularly the members of the Armed Services Committee, this will mean ensuring our brave troops get the resources they need to secure victory in Afghanistan and return home safely."

On the campaign trail, I pledged to listen to my constituents.  To that end, I asked my constituents about the issues that Congress is likely to vote on in the next few months.  I also held a live telephone “talk story” and had the privilege of hearing the thoughts and concerns of thousands of my constituents in the 1st congressional district.  I also plan on holding eight “talk stories” throughout the State in early July.

“The biggest concern I hear about on a regular basis from my constituents is the out-of-control spending in Washington, D.C.  We’re simply spending too much money on programs that don’t work with no plan to pay it back. This is irresponsible."

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle today released three lists of nominees for three circuit court judges that were provided to her by the Judicial Selection Commission.   The nominees, some of whom are on more than one list, will fill three vacancies on the Circuit Court of the First Circuit which covers the island of O‘ahu.  The Governor is inviting the public to submit comments on the nominees as part of her review and selection process.

In order to avoid a vote on the record trillion-dollar deficits they are responsible for accumulating since taking office, Democrats have confirmed that they will be the first House majority that has failed to pass an annual budget resolution since the Congressional Budget Act was adopted in 1974.

The Star Advertiser today reported that 85% of the respondents are asking for a veto!

HB444 HD1 SD1 RELATING TO CIVIL UNIONS.

Veto Explanation:        Extends the same rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities of spouses in a marriage to partners in a civil union.

When we compare how Duke Aiona performs against either of his potential opponents in a general election for Governor, we find that in both cases the race is too close to call.  Indeed, both ballot results are within the margin of error of the survey.  But it is hard to ignore the fact that Duke Aiona actually leads Mufi Hannemann (+4) and is not very far behind with Neil Abercrombie (-3).

 Rep. Djou At the Ewa Hongwangi Bon Dance

Continuing her mission in Asia, Governor Lingle is in Japan and met yesterday with Minister Seiji Maehara of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).  The Governor thanked Maehara-san for his support of internationalizing Haneda Airport.  In October, Hawai`i will welcome daily flights by Hawaiian and Japan Airlines with the opening of the new runway at Haneda Airport.

On March 29, 2010, the first meeting of the Hawai‘i-Okinawa Task Force was held in Honolulu.  Top-level officials from the U.S. Department of Energy, Prefecture of Okinawa, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, New Energy Technology Department, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, Hawai‘i State Energy Office, Department of Defense, and national laboratory representatives met to discuss the acceleration of renewable energy technologies and  energy efficiency, and evaluate the achievements of existing clean energy projects to enable the islands to be energy independent.  Initiation of several joint projects resulted from that meeting.

"Through the groundbreaking Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative, our state is leading the way toward an energy-secure and self-sufficient future," said Lt. Governor Aiona, who delivered the keynote address at the Hawai‘i-Okinawa Task Force meeting.

In fiscal year 2009, 4,043 persons were moved into permanent housing through State homeless programs. During the same year, 11,680 homeless people received services from eight outreach provider agencies throughout the State, and 9,483 homeless people utilized services at homeless shelters.

It is significant to note that the total statewide homeless count increased by less than one percent (52 individuals) since the previous count in January 2009. This occurred despite significant job losses and reductions in work hours due to the unprecedented economic downturn in State history.

In the evening, Governor Lingle was the honored guest of the China Diplomatic Friendship Association and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce banquet held in the Great Hall of the People, China's capitol building.  The special guest at this event was Lu Yong Xiang, vice chairman of the Chinese People’s National Congress and head of the Chinese National Academy of Sciences.  Vice Chairman Lu recently returned from visiting Mauna Kea on the Big Island, the site of the forthcoming Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT).  China intends to be a collaborative partner in the TMT project. 

Mr. Lu believes China and Hawai‘i have a great opportunity to work together in scientific explorations.  As he stated, “Hawai‘i can see the cosmos and the vast oceans—so its horizons are unlimited.”  Mr. Lu praised Governor Lingle for her foresight in establishing strong relationships with China, demonstrated by her four trips to the country during her administration.

Washington- With two months passed since their April 15 deadline and still no budget produced by Washington Democrats, the majority in Congress continues to miss opportunities to rein in government spending and provide the fiscal discipline needed to create jobs and grow a healthy economy. Since the Congressional Budget Act was adopted in 1974, the House has never failed to pass a budget resolution, but Colleen Hanabusa and her Washington friends continue to forge ahead with their out-of-control spending spree and still no budget resolution in sight.

“Hawai‘i is the only State in the nation that does not set by statute the minimum number of hours of instructional time a public school student should receive,” said Lt. Governor Aiona. “Our families, principals and teachers deserve a public school system that ensures our students have the tools and classroom time needed to succeed.”

Hawai‘i has the shortest amount of instructional time in the nation – 4 hours and 43 minutes per day.  Thirty-two states average 5-and-a-half hours per day of instructional time (990 hours per school year) and 16 states mandate a minimum of 6 hours of instruction per day (1,080 hours per school year).

Yesterday in Beijing, the Governor had a private meeting with Ambassador Jon Huntsman at the U.S. Embassy. During this hour and a half discussion, the Ambassador and Governor discussed the importance of establishing a protocol for the processing of visas for Chinese who want to visit Hawai`i on charter flights going directly from cities such as Shanghai and Beijing to Honolulu.

It is unfortunate that State Rep. Tom Brower believes Lt. Governor Duke Aiona, as acting Governor, should sign or veto the civil unions bill (HB 444) behind the back of Governor Linda Lingle while she is on an economic mission to China.

Brower should not be doling out political advice, especially since he voted for HB 444 only days before turning on his Democrat colleagues for reviving the issue.

While Brower’s deceptive politics may pass in a State Legislature overrun with 90 percent of its members from one party, Lt. Governor Duke Aiona believes government works best with balance, integrity and accountability.

HONOLULU — Lt. Governor Aiona today signed into law Senate Bill 2897, as acting governor, which strengthens the ignition interlock law in Hawai‘i.

“This measure provides resources to improve our efforts to stop impaired driving and the tragedies that result from drunk driving,” said Lt. Governor Aiona. “Most of the injuries, fatalities and property damage caused by drunk drivers are preventable and we must keep these drivers off of our highways.”

Congressman Djou will continue to advocate for a free trade agreement with the Republic of the Philippines as well as expanding the number of visas the U.S. Government issues, particularly those for the purpose of family reunification.

The government cannot fix the economy and it cannot create real jobs. Only you, the citizen, can do that. The new Maui County Mayor must make county government work better with less money and must serve you in a fast and fair manner. The new Mayor must get the county out of your way so you can get on with the job of rebuilding our economy.

As Mayor of Maui County, I will do what we need right now to help get our economy moving again. I will rein in government. I will shrink taxes to put money back in your pocket where it belongs. I will apply county regulations so that the economy can grow and our people can prosper once again.

An uncomfortable Neil Abercrombie receiving Hawaii TEA Party Bumper sticker from HTP President Brett Glass

On the Failure of Congress to Pass a Budget:

“A perfect representation of the problems we have here on Capitol Hill is the failure of Congress to pass a budget. I mean, that’s one of the most basic things any private business, any family would do to get its fiscal house in order. But here in the United States Congress we have yet to pass a budget and it’s already mid-June. This is irresponsible.”

Washington, DC — Congressman Charles Djou (HI-01) issued the following statement today reacting to the selection of AECOM as the EIS contractor for the Big Wind Project....

"The Honolulu Mayor has used taxpayer dollars to advocate for the reckless rail transit project, he raked in more than $200,000 from donors linked to government contractors in the last six months of 2009, and now he's raising big money from consultants seeking rail contracts.  While he's whacking the rail transit piñata for all the goodies he can get, he's raising property taxes and increasing fees on just about every other service the city provides.  Is this the kind of leadership Hawaii deserves?"

“We must ensure that the connection between the United States and the Philippines remains strong. One of my priorities in Congress is to strengthen our nation’s ties to the Philippines and expand the number of visas that our government issues, particularly to the Philippines,” Djou continued.

The Executive Committee of the Hawaii Business Roundtable, respectfully recommends the veto of HB444....

The pension plans sponsored by states and municipalities will place a substantial burden on state and local public finances in the near future. My recent work has estimated that the present value of already-promised state pension benefits is over $5 trillion when the benefit payments are discounted using Treasury yields, compared to a little over $2 trillion in pension fund assets. Most state constitutions offer special protections to pension benefits that state workers have already earned.

This analysis raises the question of how soon such a situation might lead to an all-out state and municipal fiscal crisis. One important day of reckoning is the day that the state pension funds run out of money. At that point, pension payments to retirees will have to come out of general revenues. This day of reckoning is in fact not as far away as some might imagine. For Illinois, it could be as soon as 2018.  (For Hawaii it is 2020.)

The undersea interisland cable is one component of the Interisland Wind Initiative, which includes the development of wind farms in Maui County, the development of the undersea cable, and the utility infrastructure upgrades that would allow the integration of a renewable energy electrical grid. 

RepCharlesDjou — June 10, 2010 — Congressman Djou gave the following speech from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives discussing the nation's fiscal situation and the need for a budget that puts our nation's fiscal house in order.

The seminar also provided potential investors with detailed information on how Chinese students can enroll in local educational institutions, how to retire in Hawai‘i and buy a place to live, and business opportunities in areas such as medical clinics, golf and tennis facilities, and retailing.

In her remarks, Governor Lingle noted that Hawai‘i can serve as an entry point for the U.S. mainland and is an excellent location for a headquarters operation for Chinese companies because of our language and cultural ties, as well as being a safe place to do business and live.

HONOLULU – Top women leaders from seven nations will gather in Honolulu, Hawai‘i this fall to share their personal and professional stories at the 7^th annual International Women’s Leadership Conference (IWLC).  Hosted by Governor Linda Lingle on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at the Sheraton Waikīkī Hotel and Resort, the conference will build on the success and growth of the past six years.

Online conference registration is now available at www.hawaiiwomensconference.com.

HONOLULU -- The State Commission on Water Resource Management (Commission) issued its final decision and order in the contested case to set interim instream flow standards for four west Maui streams –Waihe‘e, Waiehu, ‘Iao and Waikapu -- known together as “Na Wai ‘Eha.”

Washington- The nation’s chief economist warned yesterday that America’s fiscal path is unsustainable and called for swift action to manage a growing national debt crisis, but Democrat candidate Colleen Hanabusa's Washington friends still refuse to do the necessary work to lead the country back to fiscal stability. While Democrats still refuse to create a budget for the upcoming fiscal year, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testified to the House Budget Committee yesterday that it’s time for Congress to act....