Bush support needed for Akaka bill
By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
The Bush administration is key to gaining federal recognition for Native Hawaiians, U.S. Rep. Ed Case said yesterday.
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"If the president supports federal recognition or is neutral to federal recognition, it will occur and it will occur probably this year," Case, D-Hawai'i, said before about 40 people at a Hawai'i Publishers Association luncheon.
U.S. Rep. Ed Case said federal recognition is critical to the "survival and prosperity of Native Hawaiians."
The federal recognition legislation, also called the Akaka bill, has stalled in the U.S. Senate. It would allow Native Hawaiians to form their own sovereign government that could be recognized by the United States, similar to those of American Indians and Native Alaskans.
Case said the Republicans in Congress will go along with federal recognition if the administration can agree to it.
Case said such federal recognition is critical to the "survival and prosperity of Native Hawaiians" and that it is not just the right thing to do, but an action that would benefit everyone in Hawai'i.
Case, who was first elected to Congress last year, also said that Washington is in the middle of "one hell of a good ideological debate" over various issues but that it is also affected by "crony capitalism."
The result can be seen in issues such as prescription drug cost relief and tort reform, he said.
"There are eager people out there benefiting tremendously from the decisions and that's why those decisions are being made," he said.
Other issues Case commented on include:
- His endorsement of Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman as the Democratic nominee for president. Case said Lieberman has moderate views similar to his own.
- Conflict in the Middle East. Case, who participated in a congressional delegation to Israel this month, said the rise of Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas is the most important development in the conflict and that "the bad guy in all this" is Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
"It was clear to me after spending a week in Israel, that Mr. Arafat and the people he controls do not want peace," he said.
Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.
