DJOU ON KITV-4: I HAVE BEEN “VOCAL, OUTSPOKEN ADVOCATE” FOR HAWAII
Washington, DC — Congressman Charles K. Djou (HI-01) appeared on KITV-4 this morning to discuss his vote this past week as well as his legislative priorities in Congress:
Excerpts below:
On the state bailout bill
“Number one, this measure was financed by cutting food stamps, taking money from the poorest of the poor. I thought that was wrong. Second, this was financed by an increase in taxes. Taking $10 billion out of the private economy in this recession is a bad idea. Third, this measure is going to increase the size of the budget deficit—according to the Congressional Budget Office—and with our ballooning national debt, I think that’s a bad idea. Fourth, and most important of all, I’ve always said that I am first and foremost the Congressman from Hawaii…I thought it was unfair to ask the taxpayers of Hawaii to bail out states like California or Illinois or New York, which are having problems balancing their budgets”
On the tax increases
“Anytime you’re taking money out of the private sector, especially in this severe economic recession, that doesn’t make sense. What we need are more private sector jobs, not more public sector programs. And also, let me make this very quick point here: this bill is not paid for. According to the Congressional Budget Office, it’s going to create $12.6 billion in additional deficit spending.”
On representing the people of Hawaii
“My responsibility is first and foremost to represent the people of Hawaii and that is absolutely what I have been doing. I think what you saw in the special election is that the majority of the people didn’t vote against me. The overwhelming majority of the voters voted against the establishment. They didn’t like the status quo and felt that the current representation in Congress needs a fundamental change. That’s what I’ve been doing, and that’s who I’m representing. I look forward to the judgment of the voters again in November.”
On pursuing specific priorities of Hawaii
“I’ve only been a Congressman for a few months, but I’m very excited that in the few months I have been there, I have been a vocal, outspoken advocate for the people of Hawaii. I think I have attracted more national attention to Hawaii issues than what people in Hawaii have seen for a long time. For example, number one: I have been an outspoken advocate for reforming our treaty with Micronesia and resolving the situation with Micronesia. Second, I have been an outspoken advocate for reforming the Jones Act—making this a national issue. Third, and most importantly of all, I have been an advocate for a more fiscally responsible and accountable government, because the people of Hawaii are simply not made of money and we cannot afford these yawning budget deficits.”
On areas of agreement with President Obama
“When I was campaigning for this office, I said when Barack Obama is right, I’m going to stand with him, and when he’s wrong, I’m going to call him on it; that’s what I think a Congressman should do. I agree with the President’s approach—largely—on national security. I think he’s got it right in Iraq and Afghanistan. I agree with a lot of his policies regarding public education, about reforming public education: ending tenure for teachers, establishing merit pay for good teachers. I’m also in agreement—and I was one of only eleven Republicans who stood with the President—in maintaining the temporary moratorium on offshore drilling. I think these are examples where the President got it right and I was very happy to stand with him on those issues.”
Watch the interview HERE.
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