Posted on: Wednesday, July 31, 2002

GOP chairman to file complaint

Associated Press

State Republican Party Chairman Micah Kane yesterday said he will file a formal complaint this week asking the state Ethics Commission to determine if Democratic Gov. Ben Cayetano violated the law.

Kane has questioned Cayetano's use of state employees to research Republican gubernatorial candidate Linda Lingle's campaign platform, the results of which Cayetano released Monday, saying her proposed tax cuts and credits would cost the state $428 million in revenues over four years.

"While we welcome discussion and debate on all issues, it is clear that Gov. Cayetano ordered government employees to engage in political activities only for the benefit of Democrat candidates for governor," he said.

Cayetano denies any wrongdoing, saying his administration will also analyze the financial impact of proposals made by Democratic gubernatorial candidates.

"I'm not running for anything, but I'm still the governor and I have the responsibility to manage the state and when people disagree with that and they criticize or they propose things I think are detrimental to the state, do they expect me to be a potted plant and not to say anything?" he said.

Legislators from either party running for office develop program proposals based on information from legislative research offices that are paid for by taxpayers, he said. "There is nothing wrong with that," he said.

Kane recalled that Cayetano has said he would fire any employee he found doing political work on government time.

"Is he going to fire himself and his entire Cabinet?" Kane asked.

" ... ultimately, the people of Hawai'i will be the judge and jury of this abuse of power when they vote in the Nov. 5 general election."