Honolulu Civil Beat - March 10, 2011
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs spent $3,192,547 on lobbyists for the Akaka bill — legislation that has failed to pass since it was first introduced 10 years ago.
OHA revealed the figure, which covers fiscal years 2003 through 2010, in a letter earlier this month to the chairmen of the Hawai`i Senate Ways and Means Committee and the Hawai`i House Finance Committee.
Republican state Senator Sam Slom had asked OHA for the lobbying amount at a budget briefing at the state Capitol January 6th.
The legislation, also known as the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Bill, hasn't had enough support to pass during the 10 years since its first introduction by US Senator Daniel Akaka and then US Representative Neil Abercrombie...
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