Posted on: Saturday, February 12, 2005

Neighbor Island senator is accused of misconduct

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Staff Writer

A citizen complaint has been filed with the state Senate against Sen. J. Kalani English, D-6th (E. Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i) for alleged misconduct in accepting free flights on Hawai'i Air Ambulance planes.

The complaint, by Honolulu resident George Fox, charges, among other things, that English improperly solicited and accepted gifts of five airplane rides from Hawai'i Air Ambulance in 2002 and 2003 while legislation affecting the company was before the Legislature. The complaint also alleges the senator failed to disclose the gifts as required.

English could not be reached for comment, but he acknowledged accepting flights and lodging in previous news reports. He denied any misconduct, however.

The complaint is now under review by the Senate's attorney to see if Fox has the standing to invoke a Senate rule.

Otherwise, the matter was reviewed by Senate President Robert Bunda and dismissed for lack of evidence, said Laura Figueira, Bunda's administrative assistant.

The complaint, based on accounts in newspaper stories, also alleges that English filed false statements claiming he used Senate airline coupons when he actually took free airplane trips.

In addition, it alleges that the senator did not return unused Senate airplane coupons or provide reimbursement for them and accepted improper gifts of lodging and failed to report the gifts.

Fox, the spokesman for a new government watchdog group named Citizen Voice, is urging Bunda to follow Senate Rule 72, which requires him to "attempt to resolve the matter in an administrative proceeding." If the complaint remains unresolved, according to the rule, English would have an opportunity to defend himself before a special Senate committee. Penalties could range from a censure to expulsion.

Fox said he filed the complaint because he heard that Bunda had decided to drop the matter.

"I don't want him to sweep it under the rug," said Fox, a former board member with the now defunct Hawai'i chapter of Common Cause. "If (the charges are) true, there ought to be a penalty."

In 2001, English sponsored a resolution urging an increase in Medicare reimbursement rates for Hawai'i air medical services. And in early 2002, he obtained the signatures of all 76 House and Senate members in a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson urging an increase in Hawai'i's air medical rates.

Reach Timothy Hurley at thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.