A call for Republicans to push for a forensic audit of HART and their failed rail project!

My Fellow Republicans,     August 23, 2017

As you are aware, there's lots of chatter about our State Legislature  “most likely” convening a special session next week to debate the funding mechanism for the City’s failed rail project.  As we wait for the final announcement, there’s lots of ways you can get involved to demand accountability for Hawaii’s taxpayers.  We must stand together against the waste that has plagued the city’s over-budget and behind-schedule rail project!

All of us should check on the Capitol webpage, Recent Updates section, as often as we can to see if there has been an announcement regarding a Special Session, and spread the word as soon as you see it posted.  Also, it is entirely possible that we will have an opportunity to submit testimony as early as Monday, if the Senate or House waives the normal notice requirements.  Like so many of us did last week in the Informational Hearing, please be ready to charge in with testimony if a Special Session is called.  Our collective participation is very important!  I was so proud to stand alongside so many of you who stayed very long hours for the opportunity to testify last week.  Our elected officials need to hear from us!

Our Republican Caucus is united to push for an audit of the rail and will be representing us all with an Amendment on the floor.  Even if you are not in one of the districts with a Republican representative, you should call your elected officials and push for the same.  The public deserves to know about fraud, whether it happened now or in the past. The only way to know for sure if Hawaii taxpayers have been getting true and honest returns for their hard-earned tax dollars is to conduct a full forensic audit of the rail project.  All the better if an entity independent of the city were hired to provide the staff and expertise to conduct such an audit — in a reliable, trustworthy and timely manner.   The push for the audit is clear.  Our Republican Party is against more unfair sales taxes imposed on our oppressed public, who are already the worst-off in the country in terms of per-capita government debt and cost of living.

The grassroots in Honolulu County will be sign waving this Friday August 25th on the North Shore from 3-6pm (Thompson Corner in Waialua; Weed Circle in Pupukea, Kahuku and Laie), and in Mililani from 4:30-6pm (Meheula Pkwy and Kuahelani).  For those closer to town, the grassroots will be sign waving on Monday August 28th from 3:30-6pm in front of Party Headquarters.  In addition to testimony and calling your legislators, if you are interested in holding a sign waving event in your neighborhood, contact your District and County Chairs.  Or please join us at one of these locations, even if just for a few minutes, to show our neighbors that we reject the Democrats’ same, tired solutions of increasing taxes and demand better solutions for all people of Hawaii.

Mahalo for all your hard work! 

Shirlene Ostrov

Hawaii Republican Party Chairman