BY JIM DOOLEY – Honolulu should “count on” full federal funding for its rapid transit project, U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye said in a press conference today.
The senior senator gave that assurance despite growing instability in the federal budget, saying that he will protect the rail project from expected cuts in federal spending.
“I will most certainly discuss this matter with the appropriate committee,” Inouye said.
Asked how secure the funding is, Inouye said, “I think they (Honolulu officials) should count on it.”
On the federal debt ceiling crisis and credit rating downgrade, Inouye refused to lay the blame on a particular political party or faction.
“There’s enough blame for everyone,” he said. “We should be big enough to say we’re all in it.”
He sided with President Barack Obama in advocating increased tax revenues as a partial solution to the nation’s debt problems.
“Not necessarily raising taxes but closing loopholes,” Inouye said.
“Why should I be able to use interest deductions for the purchase of my second home by purchasing a 150-foot yacht?” Inouye said.
And he assailed the use of international “tax havens” by American corporations.
One such haven in the Cayman Islands is used by 9,000 American companies to avoid federal taxes, he said.
“It’s true that we tax corporations 35 per cent. But then you look at General Electric and they pay zero (taxes),” the senator continued.
The debt ceiling compromise passed by Congress last week calls for the creation of a “super committee” of 12 Democrats and Republicans to prepare a list of more than $1 trillion in spending cuts to help balance the federal budget.
“I am doing everything possible to convince my colleagues on the committee to include (new) revenue sources,” Inouye said.
The senator said he has no interest in serving on the super committee himself.
He told Senate majority leader Harry Reid, “I don’t want to because I’m chairman of the Appropriations Committee and we’ve got a workload.”
In other comments, Inouye said he likes President Barack Obama’s chances of re-election.
“I look upon him as the best candidate we have in both parties. I think he’s holding his own,” Inouye said.
“I am confident that he will be our nominee. I’m not saying this because I’m a Democrat, but I don’t see any really strong serious candidate facing us yet,” he continued.
Inouye also advocated:
- “A full investigation” of security lapses at Honolulu International Airport by employees of the federal Transportation Security Administration.
- Full federal reimbursement to Hawaii of the costs of medical care provided to immigrants from Micronesia and other Pacific nations in the Compact of Free Association. “We’ve had very serious discussions not only with federal officials but with officials of the compact states. They realize that it is not fair for Hawaii to pick up the load.”
- That his colleague, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, serve his entire term of office rather than step down prior to his announced retirement date next year. “Look at it from the standpoint of Mr. Akaka,” Inouye said. “After all, he got elected and he wants to finish his term. I would not be the one to tell him he should cut it short. I would hate to have someone tell me that.”
- That any cuts to Medicare and Social Security should only affect new members of the workforce. ” You don’t have to cut away anything that, say, someone who is retiring today or 20 years from now will be receiving,” he said.
[…] Hawaii Reporter […]
Honolulu should “count on” full federal funding for its rapid transit project, U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye said in a press conference today.
This is what it feels like when someone blow smoke up your ***,
When it comes to the genuinely personable Dan, look what he does and has done, not what he says.
1) He’s been the only remaining “pork king” in the Congress…. now that Stevens (R-Alaska) is gone. Even though pork will be less prevalent in HI’s and America’s future, there is no rationale justification for Hawaii to be represented by two aged Senators — leaving us on the path to soon having no seniority in a body that lives on little else. One is left only to conclude that Dan doesn’t really care much what happens to HI after he and Akaka have gone on to meet their makers. Furthermore, our House seats are revolving doors with two no-majority representatives who have no juice in the body.
2) His party is mostly responsible for converting, in the name of fairness, what all of us would like in an ideal world into entitlements that threaten the future of the nation. Such foolishness has led us to a $14T+ debt that if reported on an accrual basis is closer to $100T — a debt that either our kids will (somehow?) pay or will result in collapse of the United States.
Some hero….
[…] federal government is running out of money (and the will to spend it), Hawaii Senator Ihouye has promised to bring home the bacon (which has been his main job for more than 40 years). We’ll see […]
Comments are closed.