HIRONO'S ONLY EDUCATION ACCOMPLISHMENT: SIDING WITH UNION BOSSES

News Release from www.GOPHawaii.com   

HONOLULU -  In advance of Mazie Hirono's furlough rally later today, the Hawaii Republican Party has released a grassroots web video Strikers reminding Hawaii residents of Hirono's historic roll with public education. 

"Mazie Hirono has been a shame for Hawaii's education system always siding with union bosses and not students, and encouraging the teachers to strike rather than helping to form solutions. Today, she's continuing to live in the past at her furlough rally, and she has encouraged teachers to strike again as union negotiations stall with Gov. Abercrombie," said David Chang, Hawaii Republican Party chairman. 

The video is available online here. 

Despite Hirono's claims to be a stalwart for education, her only accomplishment has been to side with the union bosses and not students.  Linda Lingle, however, has been a strong leader for public education in Hawaii. The below listing provides additional detail comparing Hawaii's U.S. Senate candidates' accomplishments for public education.  

Mazie Hirono's Education Accomplishments 

·         *Encouraged the teachers strike in 2001, contributing to Hawaii's students missing 14 instructional days; 

·         *She's doing the same thing today, encouraging teachers to strike as union negotiations continue to stall with Governor Abercrombie;

·         *Always supported the Union Bosses, not the students; 

·         *Lied about "creating" Hawaii's pre-Plus program, claiming the work of others as her own. 

Linda Lingle's Education Accomplishments

·         *Was a volunteer reading teacher for 10 years on Maui;

·         *Ended teacher furloughs with an innovative public-private partnership to provide funding the DOE believed was necessary;

·         *Established and promoted the STEM program for Hawaii's students;

·         *Helped to secure $75 million in Race to the Top federal funding for education; 

·         *Dedicated $35 million of discretionary federal funding toward education programs statewide to fund the Hawaii Science Olympiad, the Challenger Space Center, robotics education, International Baccalaureate program and the accreditation for Hawaii’s public charter schools;

·         *Advocated for the constitutional amendment which changed Hawaii's board of education to an appointed board, which could be held accountable for their decisions; 

·         *Allocated $25 million in state and federal funds toward early childhood education to increase preschool access for low and moderate-income children;

·         *Created workforce training programs to encourage vocational training opportunities for secondary school students;

·         *Approved and implemented the construction of the University of Hawaii – West Oahu campus, and the University of Hawaii – Hilo School of Pharmacy;

·         *Directed more than $605 million to the Department of Education to fund new school construction, critical repair and maintenance and energy efficiency implementation projects