Environment

HONOLULU - Duke Aiona today issued the following statement in response to his opponent's proposal for the next Lieutenant Governor to control the process for obtaining federal funds. 

Charles Djou's stay on Capitol Hill was supposed to be brief....

...police reported the car was registered to my opponent, Rep. Jessica Wooley, and her husband. When police called her, she did not deny her car was there and said it must have been a volunteer, but that she didn't know who it was.  She also claimed to have only taken the signs down and left them in front of the house, but as we reported, the signs were stolen and thrown into her van.  Someone mysteriously returned signs at the place they were stolen with a note saying the property caretakers didn't want the signs up.  But these were not the same signs stolen from the property and we confirmed with the property caretakers that they indeed supported our campaign and wanted a sign in their home.

“Congressman Djou understands the importance of small business in restoring the nation’s economy,” she said, noting his willingness to fight growing federal regulations and stand firm against anti-business measures such as big labor’s “card check” legislation that would unfairly deny small businesses and their workers the right to secret ballot elections when faced with union-organizing campaigns."

"Jobs and the economy are unquestionably the two most important issues in the elections this November," said Ed Pinto, Chairman and CEO of Trust in Small Business PAC. 

"Small business is the key to jump starting the economy and creating new jobs America so desperately needs," Pinto continued. "Congressman Djou understands this. Djou stands up for small business."

Subsets of the 14-member Political Action Committee met with candidates to identify those who were friendly to businesses. To receive the Chamber's endorsement as a "business friendly" candidate, each candidate had to meet a minimum score equating to 60 percent of the total points possible.

Duke Aiona and Lynn Finnegan's opponents did not meet the minimum score to qualify for an endorsement.

"Our opponent continues to speak in platitudes, including an over-reliance on federal funding as the solution to Hawai‘i's economic issues.

"Duke Aiona addressed balance, integrity and fiscal responsibility in state government, while creating job opportunities, reducing the financial burden on our working families and small businesses and improving the quality of public education."

Naturally she withheld this magnificent announcement until encountering an amateur videographer on a Washington, DC street corner. 

Honolulu, HI — Congressman Charles K. Djou (HI-01) has selected local attorney Irene Anzai as a 2010 Angel in Adoption^TM  for her support of adopted children and their families. The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), which organizes the Angels in Adoption^™ program, will honor Anzai and other Angels at an awards ceremony and gala event on October 6, 2010 in Washington, DC. Congressman Djou will present the actual award to Anzai at a local ceremony on October 15....

Our internal polls now show us with a narrow lead, and a recent poll by a left wing blog shows our opponent with a razor thin lead.  In either case, our race is very close.

"Nothing in our opponents' latest plan would help bring about immediate economic recovery or create private sector jobs in 2011," said Duke Aiona. "Our opponents are finally admitting that there needs to be a down payment for their program, except that it now comes from "external" funds - which essentially means federal funds. If they fail to obtain these external funds, there will be no down payment and therefore no delivery on their promises."

"The Hawai‘i Restaurant Association is excited to be supporting Duke Aiona for Governor," said Chris Colgate, chairman of the Hawai‘i Restaurant Association Board of Directors. "Our industry believes he has always supported many of our positions and is committed to keeping down the high cost of doing business in Hawai‘i."

The leftist Daily KOS has released results of a survey conducted by Public Policy Polling October 2 and 3 among likely voters in Hawaii.  The poll shows Republican Gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov Duke Aiona statistically tied with Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Rep. Neil Abercrombie. 

Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Neil Abercrombie has released his “Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.”  Here are some of the best lines....

  Congressman Djou, his wife Stacey, Stephan Edwards and his brother Ryan of Systemcenter

Hawaii Right to Life, in partnership with Pearson Foundation of Hawaii, invites you to a special pro-life presentation and charity benefit featuring the Reverend Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro Carámbula, Chaplain of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

While in D.C. as Congressman, Neil Abercrombie voted not once, not twice but three times in favor of taxpayer-funded bailouts for Wall Street financial institutions, auto companies and fiscally irresponsible state governments....

“This election is going to be won at the grassroots level, and our coalition leaders are on the ground in communities throughout the state,” said Lynn Finnegan. “We're going after every vote on every island and these coalitions help us connect with our citizens on the issues they care about most.”

“Hawai‘i's working families and small businesses already suffer from one of the highest overall tax rates in the nation,” said Lynn Finnegan. “Duke and I oppose tax increases, and we'll encourage a business-friendly environment.”

"We want to focus this campaign on the critical issues facing our working families and small businesses, and nothing is more critical right now than creating job opportunities," said Duke Aiona. "There's nothing in our opponents' plan that will create private sector jobs immediately, which will be a top priority for an Aiona-Finnegan Administration."

Hawaii Christian Coalition candidate comparisons for Hawaii Legislative races.

"National Democrats have already blown over $530,000 in this race in a desperate attempt to mislead Hawaii voters and distract them from examining Colleen Hanabusa's record. Every dollar spent has been to distort Congressman Djou's record while no dollar was spent promoting anything positive about their "second favorite" candidate."

Washington- Democrat Congressman Chet Edwards (D-TX) recently admitted that his vote for his party’s failed trillion-dollar stimulus may cost him an election. His startling admission should have Democrat candidates like Colleen Hanabusa – who also supported the legislation – worried that they too will share the same fate.

"My comments about flu vaccine have been taken out of context and misconstrued by members of the media as well as supporters of my opponent's campaign.

“I've talked with many health care professionals and reviewed the benefits and risks of flu vaccinations. I just got my flu shot."

With the Gubernatorial race coming down to the wire, the Washington Post has just published a six page interview with Senator Dan Inouye in which he says absolutely nothing about Neil Abercrombie’s campaign.  Abercrombie beat Inouye’s favored candidate Mufi Hannemann in the September 18th Democratic Primary.  Is Inouye repeating the same strategy which places personal loyalty above party loyalty and was so helpful to the election of Republican Charles Djou in the May Special Election?

As thousands of voters in Hawaii's First Congressional District are readying themselves to cast votes in the General Election, one of the main candidates will be unable to cast a vote for herself. Voters should ask, why is Colleen Hanabusa running for a Congressional seat that represents an area she doesn't live in?

The deadline to register to vote in the General Election is Monday, October 4. 

Your voter registration application must be received by the City or County Clerk where you reside no later than 4:30 pm on Monday, Oct. 4.

Asked if he would endorse any gubernatorial candidate now that Hannemann is out of the race, Carvalho said, “As for further endorsements, I’m not prepared to do so at this time but may at a later date.”

[Colleen Hanabusa]  "I can tell you right now, in government I don't think there's waste, per se.”

[Charles Djou] "You know that's not true. Our government is wasting billions of dollars. We may be the first generation in American history to leave the next worse off.

HONOLULU - Duke Aiona and Lynn Finnegan today launched the second in a series of videos they are sharing online to discuss real solutions for all of Hawai‘i. The second spot, "Fuel," focuses on small businesses, which fuel Hawai‘i's economy.

The 30-second web video consists of time-lapse driving sequences, seeing the islands through Duke Aiona's perspective as we hear his thoughts.

“Today marks the start of a new Federal fiscal year.  Congress just closed one of the most fiscally irresponsible sessions in modern American history, spending an inordinate amount of money, running an unprecedented budget deficit—without turning the economy around."

Abercrombie attempted to drive up the cost of an important work project on Guam that is expected to create 15,000 jobs by forcing them to pay exorbitant wages, making the project unaffordable.  Even Senator Inouye came out against Abercrombie’s proposal saying it would “shut local businesses” out of work.

Unwise financial planning, flawed incentives, and failed investments have left the pension fund far short of the resources it will need for long term operation. The Hawaii ERS is woefully underfunded by any standard.  The state government is obligated to pay its employees the benefits it has promised. But a report by the National Bureau of Economic Research predicts that Hawaii’s pension system will run out of funds in 2020....

No surprise that since 1991 Abercrombie has voted with the Democratic Party 92 percent of the time, and in the last Congress 98.5 percent.... But which legislation did he vote “Nay” on when his own Democratic Party (and Republicans) voted “Yea”?

There was one disappointing occurrence last night, however.  One of my supporters, while setting up for the event, saw a white van with the license plate NDU-549 stop across the street from Hau'ula Elementary while a passenger jumped out and stole a few of my signs.  A police report has been filed so any information you may have will be helpful to the HPD.

I have had nearly $1,000 worth of signs stolen so far.

“The fact that travelers are choosing Hawai‘i for their vacation is a reflection of the hard work and cooperative efforts between this Administration, private sector businesses and the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority.  The tourism outreach that has been undertaken by this Administration includes working with the airlines to increase airlift into our state and continued infrastructure improvements at our airports through the airports modernization plan."

Last night, even though I was in Washington, D.C., I was able to talk with over 3,000 residents in my district, my "bosses" in Hawaii's First Congressional District. I heard from you about your concerns on many issues: from jobs, to the economy, to taxes, healthcare and the size of government.

As Israel is in the fight for its people’s very survival, Congressman Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, has refused to support America’s important ally over the terrorist group, Hezbollah.

"Union bosses are showing their true colors in these tough economic times,” said Chairman Jonah Ka’auwai.  “They have refused requests by union members to reduce union fees during the recession and are even making examples of Speaker Say and Senator Mercado Kim because of their resistance to raising the GET tax on the people of Hawaii."

The resolution came after a series of reports in the media indicated there was a vast network of corrupt Democratic lawmakers engaging in pay-to-play schemes on behalf of the PMA Group. As indicated in the resolution, the Washington Post reported on February 14, 2009 that they “examined contributions that were reported as being made by [the firm’s] employees and consultants, and found several people who were not registered lobbyists and did not work at the lobbying firm.”

In the 2008 at-large election, "blank votes" exceeded the votes for each of the three candidates elected to the BOE.  33.8% of the votes (312,965 votes) were "blank".

“No one denies that the current valuation of Chinese currency is troubling and remedial actions must be taken. While I support a free-floating currency exchange between the United States and China, this legislation will not affect the trade deficit and will not create American jobs. Instead, this bill would hurt more than it would help our nation and Hawai‘i.

“This measure will harm U.S.-China relations, hurt international commerce and, most troubling for Hawai‘i, impair the emerging Chinese visitor market in Hawaii."

“The Community Awareness Act requires applicants for grant assistance under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to hold public meetings regarding such applications. I introduced the legislation in response to recent events in the Ewa Gentry community, which is in my district. I hope that this legislation will receive bipartisan support and swift action.”

Abercrombie voted for higher taxes on Hawaii families, the bailout, failed stimulus - bonuses for Wall Street executives.  

In this economy, Mr. Abercrombie?

I want to relieve the tax burden on Hawaii families and small businesses, while Mrs. Hirono has already committed to drastically raising your taxes this coming January. I want to stop the incessant and reckless government spending that jeopardizes our children and grandchildren’s future, yet Mrs. Hirono advocates more ill-conceived, ill-advised, and ill-fated and costly deficit bailout schemes. And I want to create jobs for our high number of unemployed and underemployed workers, but Mrs. Hirono wants to continue making Hawaii families more and more dependent on government handouts.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan sent letters to 216 low-income families informing them that he was taking back the $7,500 in scholarship money that the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship program had previously awarded them. Yesterday on NBC's TODAY Show, Obama admitted that daughters Sasha and Malia deserve better than D.C. public schools -- that's the reason he sends them to a tony private school with other Washington elites. So then why is Obama blocking other kids from the same opportunity?

HONOLULU - Duke Aiona and Lynn Finnegan today announced the launch of their website, www.AionaFinnegan.com, and other joint efforts to reach out and connect with residents online. They have joined together on Facebook, where Duke Aiona has already added more than 11,300 friends and supporters - more than any elected official in the state.

On Twitter, Duke Aiona (@DukeAiona2010) and Lynn Finnegan (@LynnFinnegan) have more than 4,200 followers.

"There is little evidence that voters are willing to throw Djou out of office after only a couple months on the job. A private Democratic poll showed the congressman leading by double digits. This race is not over, and Djou may even have the advantage.”