HONOLULU – The Aiona-Finnegan campaign issued the following fact check in response to false statements made by our opponent at the Maui Economic Development Board’s gubernatorial forum.
FACT CHECK 1
MYTH
Our opponent says he’s in favor of decentralizing decision making in the Department of Education to get authority down to the school level.
FACT
In 2004, when local school boards were proposed to get more authority down to the schools, our opponent was absent from the debate.
FACT CHECK 2
MYTH
Our opponent says we need a change in direction in order to achieve energy independence.
FACT
Our opponens’ plan to set up an energy authority would set us back for achieving energy security and self-suffiency, and derail Duke and Lynn’s plan to cut our dependence in oil in half by 2018.
FACT CHECK 3
MYTH
The last thing we need is an audit of the Department of Education.
FACT
The Department of Education consumes 41 percent of the State general fund budget, but how it spends this huge amount of money has not been independently examined since 1973 – nearly 40 years ago. Financial audits verify whether taxpayer dollars are being spent in accordance with State laws and regulations, and management audits determine whether the money is being spent effectively and efficiently. We need both.
Many Democrats in the State Legislature agree with Duke Aiona.
FACT CHECK 4
MYTH
Pacific Biodiesel independently and objectively supports our opponents’ campaign.
FACT
Pacific Biodiesel received a specific Congressional earmark of approximately $3 million, which means they are not an impartial supporter.
FACT CHECK 5
MYTH
Our opponent will achieve energy independence.
FACT
The federal Department of Energy was founded in 1977 to curb the importation of foreign oil, yet now the department has approximately 16,000 employees with a $26.4 billion budget, and we import more oil than ever. Our opponent has been in Congress for 20 years, and there is no reason why we should believe he has changed his ways now.
Submitted by the Aiona-Finnegan campaign.