AKaKa BILL Changes Catch State Off Guard

www.starbulletin.com > News > Akaka Bill Changes Catch State Off Guard By B.J. Reyes POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 19, 2009 U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka's office is taking responsibility for a lack of communication with Gov. Linda Lingle that resulted in her administration voicing objections to an amended version of the Akaka Bill that was taken up in House and Senate committees this week. "We didn't get the substitute amendment language to them on a timely basis," Akaka spokesman Jon Yoshimura said from Washington. "This was not intentional at all. "Basically it was a very tight timetable, and we didn't do all of the things we should have done. We take responsibility for that." Attorney General Mark Bennett said his office did not receive word of the proposed changes until Monday and Tuesday of this week, days before the congressional committees took up the bill. The objections prompted U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, chief sponsor of the House version, to stick with the original version, which passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday. An amended version passed out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee on Thursday with Akaka pledging to further discuss the concerns raised by Lingle and Bennett. The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act would establish a native Hawaiian governing entity that would then negotiate with state and federal agencies over assets such as land. Lingle's concerns focus on whether the state's rights and interests would be protected as the new government is formed. One proposed change would immediately give the native Hawaiian governing entity many of the rights given to American Indian tribal governments. Native Hawaiians also would be defined by more than just blood quantum, setting forth a minimum age of 18 and requiring participants to show evidence of a significant cultural, social or civic connection with the native Hawaiian community. Additionally, the term "native Hawaiian" would be replaced by "Qualified Native Hawaiian Constituent" in the bill. Changes were proposed by President Barack Obama's administration and negotiated by the Justice Department and the state's congressional delegation, Yoshimura said. "They wanted to make sure the bill would stand all constitutional objections," Yoshimura said. Bennett said he had "no idea they were coming" until he received a copy of some of the changes Monday. "I knew the bill was being marked up, but I had no idea this was the model the bill was going to and that there had been substantive negotiations on this bill that I had not been a part of, nor the governor," he said. Lingle said she spoke briefly to Akaka yesterday. "He was very apologetic for not contacting us but really didn't explain why these changes were made," she said. Lingle, who has supported the Akaka Bill in the past, said she was disappointed by what she called the "drastic" changes, adding that the new version "would not be something that we could support, nor could I ask the people of the state to support." Bennett said he spoke yesterday with "high-level" members of the Justice Department and other congressional representatives yesterday, but declined to discuss the nature or substance of the talks.

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  • Tane,
    I don't believe Bennet for a second that is bull shit! The state not only wants the sale of lands but children too. The Akaka Bill is an agreement to cover the individual politicians that are lame ducks today for their next career move. It's a joke! The state wants an exit without malice. Yea right!!! As for the qualification--who the hell cares if one qualifies as a native Hawaiian? Who in their right mind wants to live like a donkey on the side of the hill? Kaohi
    • Kaohi, You are quite correct in your assessment. Nonetheless, Bennet has cited several times in his comment that he is seeking the "status quo" of what the state already has. He would be satisfied with the role OHA has and the limited leverage it possesses.

      The new governing entity the feds are proposing , would have a little more clout in state's actions within Hawai'i; not much but still a thorn in the state's side. It dents into the state's alleged autonomy and cuts into its revenues. They want to maintain their absolute control.

      Either way, they will still have a stronger say over the Hawaiian governing entity as does the federal government. Truly the racist WASP Manifest Destiny mechanism to subjugate the Hawaiian nationalists.

      Eagle feathers, hulu mamo, what's the difference to the U.S.A.? Certainly, it doesn't matter to Akaka/Inouye and their Hawaiian organization conspirators. ...a sidenote: just because one is married to a Native American and lived on their reservation, it doesn't make it right for the Kanaka maoli and the rest of the Hawaii nationalists.

      The donkey will live in a stall in the barn with a small corral adjacent to it to exercise in until they want to use him to carry their burden. The "Kona Nightingales" will have it much, much better. LOL... Hee - Haw!
  • Changes were proposed by President Barack Obama's administration microsoft 70-536 and negotiated by the Justice Department and the state's congressional delegation, Yoshimura said.Bennett said he had "no idea they were coming" until he received a copy of some of the changes Monday."I knew the bill was being marked up, but I had no idea this was the model the bill was going to and that there had been substantive negotiations on this bill that iseb certification I had not been a part of, nor the governor," he said.Lingle said she spoke briefly to Akaka yesterday."He Lingle, who has supported the Akaka Bill in the past, said she was disappointed by what she called the "drastic" changes, adding that the new version "would not be something that we could support, nor could I ask the people of the state to support."
    hdi certification
    • As Bennet said, he expected the status quo whereby nothing in this act would pre-empt Federal and State authority over Native Hawaiians or their property. under the existing laws. The fact that nothing in the act authorize the State to tax or regulate the Native governing entity poses a threat to the states revenues.

      The other point of interest is the Fourteenth amendment; it was never ratified and that is a controversial topic. The U.S. should bring it up to Congress to ratify it and end the controversy.

      Of course the Akaka Bill continues to promote and support the U.S. racist Manifest Destiny doctrines that they claim validates their supremacy as WASP christians ordained by God to subjugate non-whites and that they have plenary powers over them whether they are christians or not. All this is nonsense and the U.S. should pay the piper and de-occupy Hawai'i once and for all. The U.S. is unable to show the treaty of annexation because there's none; U.S. Congress had rejected the treaty because it couldn't muster the required 2/3rds majority vote. Joint Resolution is a domestic instrument that doesn't extend its jurisdiction into foreign countries.

      What the ipso facto republic of Hawaii attempted to do; the U.S. once again is attempting to do yet again. The elite Hawaiian organizations are complicit against the people's wishes and therefore are committing treason against the still existing Kingdom of Hawai'i.
  • What bedfellows of the prostituting odd couples in bed to keep their portion of the stolen pie. LMAO. Now they are fighting among themselves as they tug awat their portion of the red robe they thought was theirs. It's best to put them out of their misery and force them to de-occupy our country.

    These criminals can't deal with returning the property they stole. Tell them to eat crow and move out of our homeland and nation-state.
  • The Akaka Tribe will allow in only 27% or fewer of Hawaiians. Signing Kau Inoa does not guarantee "Qualification" for tribe--"Qualification" will be decided by 9 "commissioners"

    Must read:

    Akaka Bill: More than 73% of Hawaiians not "Qualified" for membership in Akaka Tribe

    http://bit.ly/8ma43x

    and...

    Tribes Boot Members Keep Loot

    http://bit.ly/5BvzcE
  • ALOHA Kakou, e Ke Aupuni Moi O Hawaii, Off Guard or On Guard the AKaKa BILL is HEWA. No Ifs or What's about It. Just as HEWA was the overthrow of the lawful government of the Hwaiian Kingdom, the Provisional Government of Hawaii, the Republic of Hawaii, the Territory of Hawaii and the State of Hawaii. All illegal "Acts of War" against the Hawaiian Kingdom that continues till today. Imua Ke Aupuni Moi O Hawaii, o Pomai
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