(^^^) HAOLE~WOODED DIZZY~LAND SPIN :( DOESNT BELONG IN OUR SOVEREIGN KINGDOM NATION (Y) = DE~OCCUPATION :D NO TREATY/NO ANNEXATION hawaiiankingdom.org Melissa Moniz 5 hrs They should just stay the hell out of our BUSINESS. ************must cut and paste to share. Nonsubscribers will not be able to read the article.************* Former congressman Charles Djou says he is the only candidate for Congress who would be able to change minds and persuade fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill to end a stalemate over federal recognition for Native Hawaiians. His opponent for the U.S. House of Representatives, Democratic state Rep. Mark Takai, says he will ensure that benefits continue while taking a wait-and-see approach on what steps to take toward recognizing Hawaiians. The differing approaches come as the Obama administration weighs whether to take action on its own. This summer the U.S. Department of Interior took public testimony from across Hawaii and in mainland American Indian communities, asking whether it should launch a rule-making process that could set the framework for re-establishing a government-to-government relationship with the Native Hawaiian community. The series of 15 public meetings on Oahu were marked by passionate testimony from Native Hawaiians overwhelmingly rejecting that route, although some written submissions were positive. A final decision rests with Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. In Congress, a bill to recognize Native Hawaiians as an indigenous people with the right to self-determination, similar to Native Americans and Alaska Natives, has passed the House three times but has stalled in the Senate since 2000 because of opposition from conservative Republicans who consider it race-based discrimination. Most recently, then-U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka beseeched colleagues in December 2012 to pass the bill as a final tribute to the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who died earlier that month. And U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz delivered a floor speech in June 2013, on King Kamehameha Day, urging equal treatment for Native Hawaiians. Meanwhile, a drive to register Native Hawaiians to take part in forming a Native Hawaiian government has signed up more than 120,000 people. The Native Hawaiian Roll Commission, known as Kanaiolowalu, would stage a Native Hawaiian convention once the roll is certified. Djou, who served in Congress for seven months in 2010, said he supports recognition through an act of Congress followed by a vote of the Native Hawaiian people, adding that he would work with both parties and in both chambers to convince GOP members of the need for federal recognition. The early tentative moves by the Department of Interior are wrong, in my opinion, Djou said. It should be an act of Congress. I think if Native Hawaiian recognition were done by a bureaucratic regulation, it would cheapen Native Hawaiian recognition and make it very easily reversible because any administration then, in the future, could easily yank it back. Thats not good for long-term stability of the Native Hawaiian people or the people of Hawaii, so the way to do it is do it the right way and the right way is an act of Congress followed by a plebiscite of the people. He said only a Republican in the delegation would be able to speak to members of the GOPmajority in the House — and potentially a GOP majority in the Senate — and work to win over conservative votes. I submit Im the only one who can be that voice, he said. If Hawaii elects yet another entire 100 percent Democrat delegation, they will get as far as theyve gotten in the past with Sen. Akaka himself in the Congress trying to pass this, which is nowhere. Takai, who has represented the Halawa-Aiea-Newtown district in the state House for 20 years, said he supports the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission in its efforts. At the congressional level, his greatest concern is ensuring that federal benefits to Native Hawaiians continue. He said he would support any effort at recognition that is backed by a majority of Native Hawaiians. I believe the Native Hawaiian community needs to work together and reach a consensus and I will support whatever consensus is reached, Takai said. If theres any federal issues that need to be worked on, I will work to make sure that theyre implemented effectively and efficiently. The biggest concern that I have is the benefits to the Native Hawaiian community and were going to make sure that especially the federal benefits continue. Takai and Djou are running in Hawaiis 1st Congressional District, representing urban Oahu. They are seeking to succeed U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who gave up the seat for an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Sep 2014 21:30:25 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015