Posted on: Friday, March 11, 2005

South Carolina senator says he'll co-sponsor Akaka bill

Advertiser Staff

Another U.S. senator has promised to co-sponsor the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, known as the Akaka bill.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) confirmed his support with Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday. Lingle met with Graham when he was in Hawai'i in January and again last week while she was in Washington, D.C.

Earlier, Sens. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) also said they would sign on as co-sponsors. In addition to Hawai'i Sens. Daniel Akaka and Dan Inouye, other co-sponsors include Sens. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.).

The bill needs 51 votes to pass the Senate, where 47 members are Democrats and 53 are Republicans.