Entries for 'News Release'

HONOLULU-- In her recent ad, Colleen Hanabusa boasts that she would have voted for the $26 billion state bailout bill that put Hawaii taxpayers on the hook for bailing out fiscally irresponsible state and municipal governments.

"After several polls have showed Duke Aiona and Lynn Finnegan surge in the polls, our opponent is ramping up his rhetoric and getting desperate.

"In addition to the usual lack of specifics and inability to show how he'll create job opportunities or pay for the promises he's making, our opponent flip-flopped again on the issue of an appointed school board and noticeably became agitated with Duke's specific, real solutions for the people of Hawai‘i.

Abercrombie finally admitted that he originally supported the ballot proposition for an appointed school board early on in the gubernatorial campaign before he changed positions during the PBS Hawai‘i Island Insights debate, where he voiced his opposition to the ballot proposition for an appointed school board.

However, Abercrombie again changed his position at the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce's candidate forum. He flip-flopped again to say, after being asked a second time in one night, that he supports the ballot proposal for an appointed school board.

Honolulu, Hawaii—An impressive 49 candidates from Hawaii in the November 2^nd election have have signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, promising to “oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.”

From Cam Cavasso Campaign: Just two weeks ago, we sent you our roadmap to victory, analyzing the latest polling in the Hawaii Senate Race. At the time, our opponent, Dan Inouye, held a 36-point lead in the polls.  But in the latest poll released yesterday by Rasmussen Reports, Cam is closing the gap, narrowing Inouye's lead to just 13 percent!  The poll is also revealing because it shows several trends:

He voted against adopting the recommendations of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission, which worked for nearly two years to provide an accurate description of the September 11 attacks and identify the problems that led to the success of the attack.  

HONOLULU - The State is seeking nominations to the Commission on Water Resource Management.  A Nominating Committee will screen the applicants and send to the Governor the names of at least three individuals for one open position. 

Cam Cavasso focuses on addressing the chronic deficits faced by the U.S. Government by addressing Washington’s out-of-control spending and developing a fairer, simpler tax code that avoids the revenue volatility of the current income tax structure.

In 2004 Inouye won with 75% of the vote so this is quite a come down and a very good sign for Hawaii Republican candidates up and down the ballot.

Will we elect a leader like Neil Abercrombie who believes in pouring more money into an education system consistently ranked at the bottom of the states without investigating as to the reason why and where the money goes?

Citizens Against Government Waste named him “Porker of the Month” in August of 2009 for his constant reach into pockets of hard working Americans to fund useless, ineffective and sometimes even radical programs and ideas.” 

Worst of all, Abercrombie has consistently provided large taxpayer funded contracts to his friends in companies like Pacific Biodiesel, which also donate to Abercrombie’s campaigns.  

Former Democratic Congressman Neil Abercrombie and Republican Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona are now virtually tied in the race to be Hawaii’s next governor.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Aloha State shows Abercrombie picking up 49% of the vote, while Aiona earns 47% support.

"Mr. Abercrombie was asked point blank how he would find the $190 million he promised to government workers, but once again ducked the answer.

"This is consistent with our opponent's long-standing inability to specifically explain how he would fund his book of promises."

Abercrombie admitted that he does not support an appointed Board of Education, stating that it would not make a difference.

Duke Aiona, Governor Lingle and each of Hawai'i’s past living Governors - Governor Ariyoshi, Governor Waihee and Governor Cayetano - have voiced support for an appointed Board of Education. This bipartisan support for an appointed Board of Education shows that those who have been held responsible for education in Hawai‘i believe it would be a step in the right direction to improve accountability in our education system.

The Milken Institute rankings of 200 largest US metro areas shows that Honolulu has risen from 100th to 55th overall in the combined rankings based on eight measures of job growth used by Milken.  The brightest spot for Honolulu is its ranking of 30th in “short term job growth” comparing employment numbers for April 2009 with April 2010. 

PAYCHECKS HAWAII, the private, independent, non-partisan political action affiliate of Smart Business Hawaii (SBH) announced the following federal and state pro business candidate endorsements for the November 2, 2010 Hawaii General Election

The Taxpayer’s Perspective highlights two ballot measures in Hawaii, including a statewide measure that would give the legislature discretion to use property tax rebates intended for taxpayers and a local measure in Oahu that would create a transit authority to oversee a rail project.

"I am endorsing Duke Aiona and Lynn Finnegan because they will provide a hopeful, balanced vision for our island and citizens," said Annette Baptiste. "My family is fully supportive of their campaign for Governor and Lieutenant Governor. At this critical point, I feel that, under their leadership, Duke and Lynn are best suited to address the big issues facing the people of Hawai‘i."

"I do not believe the future of our economy is going to come from a bureaucrat," Djou said. "The future of our economy is going to come from an individual, an individual American who takes a chance, goes into the marketplace and creates a job."

In her own words, Colleen Hanabusa said in one of her recent advertisements that she is the kind of politician that, “What you see is what you’ll get.” Since she asked for it, let’s take a look at her record…

Myth: The U.S. Chamber is spending foreign money on political activities.

Fact: The U.S. Chamber fully complies with all applicable laws and regulations. No foreign money is used to fund political activities.

To make matters even worse for Democrat candidates like Hanabusa, President Obama recently admitted in an interview that he realized too late that “there’s no such thing as shovel-ready projects,” confirming once and for all that the stimulus was a policy disaster. After leaving small businesses and hard-working families to suffer from Washington’s egregious miscalculations – how can Hanabusa possibly defend the failed trillion-dollar stimulus now?

MYTH: Our opponent said that the failure of Congress to pass the Akaka Bill was the fault of Republican Senators.

FACT: Our opponent didn't explain the fact that the 2009-10 Democrat Senate - part of the time with a super majority - has not only failed to pass the Akaka Bill, but has also failed to even bring it to the floor for a vote.

“I am pleased that MHLA’s Board of Directors has taken this action to publicly endorse Duke Aiona and Lynn Finnegan,” said MHLA Executive Director Carol Reimann. “The visitor industry is the largest employer of Maui County residents and we must have government cognizant of the industry’s needs.”

Never has there been a more gross example of the nation's heritage being mismanaged than at the Ewa Field battlefield, where US Marines died in defense of their country on a December 7 Sunday morning, where Navy Region Hawaii allowed this hallowed ground to became a totally forgotten GARBAGE DUMP - until Save Ewa Field brought this gross mismanagement to local and national attention.

HONOLULU - Duke Aiona and Lynn Finnegan today unveiled their policy agenda for Native Hawaiian issues. First as a judge, and later as Lieutenant Governor, Duke Aiona has been instrumental in advancing Hawaiian causes and tackling issues that disproportionately affect the Hawaiian community.

Abercrombie’s record as Congressman for more than twenty years unveils a troublesome pattern.  Abercrombie has voted consistently in favor of raising taxes, which hurt local businesses and contribute to the rise of unemployment.  Here are just a few....

Djou, a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserve, represents the First Congressional District, which is home to the U.S. Pacific Command, the U.S. Army Pacific, the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the U.S. Pacific Air Force, Pearl Harbor, Camp H.M. Smith, Fort Shafter and Tripler Army Medical Center. Ensuring that these bases and military installations have adequate funding is in the best interest of Hawaii and the United States.

...business leaders we all recognize there are some major challenges within in Hawaii’s public education system and it begins with who is accountable. Currently, there is a grass roots effort started by a wide cross section of people in Hawaii who are trying to make a fundamental change to public education in Hawaii.  The group is called “Hawaii’s Children First,” and they support a ballot initiative in the November election to allow for an appointed school board....

HONOLULU - Dutch Hanohano, campaign manager of the Friends of Duke Aiona, today announced that the grassroots campaign raised more than $65,000 over the last 14 days of the primary election, from Sept. 4 to Sept. 18, and began the general election campaign with more than $400,000 cash-on-hand.

"It took brave political leaders to dismantle laws outlawing slavery…. Neil Abercrombie is the only candidate who shows that kind of brave leadership.”

HONOLULU – More than 2,000 grassroots supporters today joined Duke Aiona and Lynn Finnegan and their families for a pa‘ina in the park at Bishop Museum. Prior to the event, more than 400 supporters lined School Street and Likelike Highway to sign wave for the event.

• For 40+ years, we've had an elected Board of Education.
• The average term of office of the current elected Board is approximately 8 years.
• One member has been in office for 2 decades.  Three members have been in office for more than 1 decade.

Honolulu, HI — Congressman Charles K. Djou (HI-01) was joined by local Cub Scouts and volunteers at Mililani Waena Elementary School today to participate in the Hawaii Jaycees’ Third Annual “Adopt-A-School” Day, an annual day of statewide service to our local schools.

Despite all the negative ads saying Charles Djou voted against funding for schools, we know that actually no Hawaii schools were ever in danger of closing, nor were any teacher jobs at risk. Consider the following from the Washington Post's editorial board. They call this bailout for states a "boondoggle" and that "With schools in session, it's even clearer now than it was then that the numbers were exaggerated and that the measure was in no small part intended to motivate the powerful teachers unions for this fall's midterm elections."

An Aiona-Finnegan Administration will champion an accessible and impartial judicial system for all of Hawai‘i's citizens; focus the role of prisons and state law enforcement agencies; be a strong advocate for fair, consistent and swift, sure punishment for crime; and work to develop programs for restorative justice in our law school, courts and law enforcement community.

• WHO: Congressman Charles Djou and Honolulu Chinese Jaycees
• WHAT: Adopt-A-School Day at Mililani Waena Elementary School
• WHEN: Sunday, October 10, 2010, beginning at 9:00 AM
• WHERE: Mililani Waena Elementary School 

... it was said that it was the first time anyone had been denied a chance to fill a vacancy on the Manoa Neighborhood Board. Zach Thomson a businessman, active civic leader, founder of the non-profit Lucent Film Academy, Eagle Scout and Active Boy Scout Den Leader, who is a husband and father that lives with his wife and child in the Manoa community was denied ....

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle today named George Burnett, a Civil Defense telecommunications officer with the state Department of Defense, as State Manager of the Year, and Lynne Kazama, a social worker with the Department of Human Services, as State Employee of the Year.  The Governor also named the “Quarantine First Responders” with the University of Hawai‘i as the State Team of the Year.

Washington- After months of rubber-stamping reckless spending and job-killing legislation, reality finally caught up with Hawaii Democrat Colleen Hanabusa and her Washington friends. The final jobs report before Election Day showed another month of high unemployment at 9.6 percent, marking it almost a year and a half since unemployment has been under nine percent, signaling major problems for any Democrat on the ballot in November.

HONOLULU - Duke Aiona today issued the following statement in response to his opponent's proposal for the next Lieutenant Governor to control the process for obtaining federal funds. 

...police reported the car was registered to my opponent, Rep. Jessica Wooley, and her husband. When police called her, she did not deny her car was there and said it must have been a volunteer, but that she didn't know who it was.  She also claimed to have only taken the signs down and left them in front of the house, but as we reported, the signs were stolen and thrown into her van.  Someone mysteriously returned signs at the place they were stolen with a note saying the property caretakers didn't want the signs up.  But these were not the same signs stolen from the property and we confirmed with the property caretakers that they indeed supported our campaign and wanted a sign in their home.

“Congressman Djou understands the importance of small business in restoring the nation’s economy,” she said, noting his willingness to fight growing federal regulations and stand firm against anti-business measures such as big labor’s “card check” legislation that would unfairly deny small businesses and their workers the right to secret ballot elections when faced with union-organizing campaigns."

"Jobs and the economy are unquestionably the two most important issues in the elections this November," said Ed Pinto, Chairman and CEO of Trust in Small Business PAC. 

"Small business is the key to jump starting the economy and creating new jobs America so desperately needs," Pinto continued. "Congressman Djou understands this. Djou stands up for small business."

Subsets of the 14-member Political Action Committee met with candidates to identify those who were friendly to businesses. To receive the Chamber's endorsement as a "business friendly" candidate, each candidate had to meet a minimum score equating to 60 percent of the total points possible.

Duke Aiona and Lynn Finnegan's opponents did not meet the minimum score to qualify for an endorsement.