STATEMENT FROM CAMPAIGN MANAGER BOB LEE

HONOLULU - Campaign Manager for the Linda Lingle Senate Committee, Bob Lee, released the following statement today.

"In a recent email to supporters, Mazie Hirono's campaign manager blasted the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, dubbing it a 'Republican-leaning ... mainland special interest group.'

"Curiously, Mazie Hirono's campaign manager previously had proudly touted the fact that the Chamber of Commerce is 'supporting the VISIT USA Act,' a bill Hirono co-sponsored, mirrored by a similar bill in the U.S. Senate.

"The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, whose single mission is 'to strengthen the competitiveness of the U.S. economy,' is far from a special interest group. Their advocacy for legislation and candidates is representative of diverse political interests. In a desperate attempt to compete with Governor Linda Lingle's issues-based campaign, Mazie and her team are resorting to partisan scare tactics, buzz words and Washington-style politics in a inept attempt to incite fear in Hawaii voters.

"Unfortunately for Hirono, you can't talk out of both sides of your mouth. On one hand, Hirono is calling the Chamber of Commerce a friend when they support her legislation, and in the same breath she tars the organization as a shadowy 'mainland' enemy because it also supports her opponent's job-creation plan.

"The people of Hawaii know we've seen this type of inconsistent, ineffective behavior from Mazie before. One thing is abundantly clear: Mazie just doesn't understand the issues. If she did, she would support good job-creating ideas, no matter where they come from.

"If, after six years in Washington, Mazie doesn't get it, she will never will."

- Bob Lee, Campaign Manager, Linda Lingle Senate Committee

ABOUT THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:

*The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business organization representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions. Its members range from mom-and-pop shops and local chambers to leading industry associations and large corporations. The organization has one overarching mission - to strengthen the competitiveness of the U.S. economy. It's long history includes support of immediate job-creating legislation, including:

- The 2011 BUILD Act, bipartisan-sponsored legislation to create a new infrastructure bank to help finance infrastructure projects, help close America's widening infrastructure gap, create jobs throughout the next decade, and strengthen America's competitive position. The legislation's key supporters were U.S. Chamber of Commerce and AFL-CIO.

- The 2011 VISIT USA Act, bipartisan-sponsored legislation which attempts to ease travel restrictions to the United States, and promote tourism.

- The 2010, Small Business Jobs and Credit Act, Democrat-sponsored legislation to create the Small Business Lending Fund Program to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to make capital investments in eligible institutions in order to increase the availability of credit for small businesses.

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