Hawaii GOP: Hanabusa Ad Misleadingly Claims She “Cut Legislative Salaries”

In her ad campaign launched earlier today, Colleen Hanabusa says that she “cut legislative salaries.”  However, the ad fails to acknowledge that Ms. Hanabusa and her fellow legislators received a 36% pay increase in January 2009.  Only as a result of public outcry over the large increases did Ms. Hanabusa accept a mere 5% pay cut resulting in an overall 31% pay increase last year.

“Both the Senate president and Speaker of the House will get a pay differential, raising their pay to $56, 208 from $42,400.  The money for legislative salaries comes from the state budget, so the state Department of Accounting and General Services issues that check”

(Richard Borreca, Hawai'i legislators to get 36% pay raise, Honolulu Star Bulletin, 10/12/08)

“With the 31% pay increase, our part-time legislators, who are in session for just four months in the year, are the highest paid part-time legislators in the nation.  In these tough economic times, when people are losing their jobs, businesses are shutting down and teachers and students are being furloughed, do we really want to elect someone who cares more about her own paycheck than what’s good for the people of Hawai'i?” said Hawai'i Republican Party Chairman Jonah Ka'auwai. 

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