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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 9:04 p.m., Thursday, August 31, 2006

Iraq, social issues mark debate

 •  Akaka says he won't debate Case again
 •  Akaka wins coin toss, will speak last

By Johnny Brannon and Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writers

Tonight's debate between U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka and U.S. Rep. Ed Case began with an opening statement by Case in which he said Akaka has "criticized my votes and voted against a balanced budget amendment."

"Sen. Akaka has misstated my views," Case said. "I don't support a permanent occupation of Iraq, and I don't support an indefinite, status quo commitment."

"We and most Iraqis want a country that Iraqis can govern and secure. They are close to having a fighting chance of doing so, and we must try to get them there and then disengage. We cannot simply pull out immediately, unilaterally, unconditionally and on a firm timetable. That would guarantee chaos in Iraq and the entire region, and would come back to haunt us. But that's what Sen. Akaka voted for."

Akaka won the coin toss and chose to speak second. Winning the coin toss means Akaka will speak second throughout the debate and will offer the last closing statement.

He will also speak last at the press conference scheduled after the debate.

In his opening statement, Akaka said that he likes appearing before an AARP audience. "My age is not necessarily a bone of contention," he said.

"Nor do I have to apologize for the more deliberate speed of my words because it's not seen as a handicap but rather a sign of thoughtfulness and care. Nor is the color of my hair a handicap. On the contrary, the fact that I have hair at all is a plus."

Akaka said he has sponsored "significant legislation" and won support "even from those across the aisle." Public debates "come only after the real work of deliberation" and "compromise have occurred," he said.

Akaka said many have spoken on his behalf and he is "humbled."

"I would like to see this campaign move from discussion about issues to actually talking about issues," Akaka said.

The first question was whether age is an appropriate criteria for U.S. Senate.

Case said his campaign has never been about age. "It's always been about transition. ... We have two U.S. senators nearing the end of their careers."

In the same way that a business provides for a transition, or a nonprofit thinks toward the future, Case said, "I reject the proposals and the movement that has been put forward by Sen. Akaka that this is about age. This is not about age, it's about reality. It's about transition."

Akaka said age is "much revered."

"These are people who have served well over the years. When I think about those that are up in years in the United States Senate, those men are considered to be the deans of the senate. Other senators go to them for advice and they are the ones that keep the Senate stable. Age makes a difference," Akaka said.

The second question was directed to Akaka.

President Bush attempted to create private accounts carved out of Social Security, said moderator Gerald Kato. Do you support or oppose private accounts paid for through Social Security dollars?

Akaka said we must not tamper with Social Security. "I strongly support Social Security as an in-service program."

He called it an effective "anti-poverty program" and said it is "an important safety net ... and I support the continuation of this program as a top priority."

Case said Social Security "has to be fixed" or will be insolvent within 10 years.

"I commend President Bush for putting the debate on the table. I think we have to fix Social Security."

Case said "we do have to maintain the basics of Social Security, that basic safety net."

Kato asked Case, "What changes would you recommend to make quality healthcare affordable to all residents of Hawai'i?"

Case said two major initiatives have to be put forward: "To allow reimportation of safe drugs from overseas ... and to allow bulk purchasing of those drugs."

Akaka said, "there's no question that we must try to improve our healthcare infrastructure" to ensure access for senior citizens.

"We must ensure that everyone in Hawai'i has healthcare coverage. Unfortunately the majority in Congress has cut and weakened the majority of safety net programs such as Medicaid and Medicare."

Akaka said, "We must take steps to reign in healthcare costs."

Akaka was asked what steps he would take to assure federal recognition for Native Hawaiians.

Akaka said, "I feel that we made tremendous gains in the last six years to educate the American public and to educate our colleagues as well."

He said the Akaka bill named after him brings "parity" to Native Hawaiians. "I will continue to strive to move it forward. Talking to the majority leader at this point it seems we will not be able to bring it up to the floor at this point."

Changes in November might mean he can bring it to the floor "this session if not next session."

Case said he believes in "some form of autonomy for Native Hawaiians."

"For now I believe this issue is best left within the Native Hawaiian community so they can deal with the failure of the Akaka bill."

Asked about Iraq, Case said, "Of course what happens in Iraq makes a difference. ... But I do not believe that civil war in Iraq is inevitable. ... The government is in place, the police and military ... are within six months, nine months of being in place ... we cannot withdraw unilaterally, unconditionally."

Akaka said he was one of 23 senators who opposed the authorization of force in Iraq because "the president's proposal did not have correct information."

"I was looking for a post-war strategy," Akaka said. "It wasn't there. These were factors that caused me to oppose authorization."

Akaka is calling for withdrawal of U.S. troops by July 2007 because "we need the Iraqi government to take responsibility for their own security."

Akaka was asked how the United States can keep up troop strength without a draft.

Akaka said the United States needs "a recruitment program that would interest our young people ... We also need to have a program to attract these young people to the military and to retain them. So I've been working on a program as a member of the Armed Services Committee to recruit, retain and also have a retirement program for the military that might interest young people ... and also look after their families."

Case said not all armed services face shortages and that he does not support a draft. "We do not have to enter into a discussion of the draft," Case said.

The United States needs to "let people know that we keep our promises. That's been a problem with this administration," Case said.

Case was asked how he balances the rights of individuals against the need to fight terrorism.

Case said the USA Patriot Act was voted on before he entered Congress. He said Patriot Act II was passed after vigorous debate.

"We want our law enforcement community to have those powers but only if there is a check and balance. The problem with the Patriot Act was not the tools, Case said, "the question was whether those protections were in place. They were not in the original Patriot Act."

They were, Case said, in Patriot Act II.

Case said he also opposes National Security Administration wiretapping without proper authorization. Akaka responded that national security needs to be a priority. "However, civil liberties are equally important. ... The Bush administration, I feel, has abused the Patriot Act" and he said he voted against it.

Case was asked about the differences between him and Akaka on the Jones Act and whether Hawai'i should be exempt from the act.

Case said Matson dominates the shipping industry. "When somebody gets ahold of our life line, that's a danger sign. ... We have laws against creating monopolies. We believe that monopolies are bad. But that's exactly what we have. ... I do believe in repeal of the Jones Act."

Akaka called the Jones Act a "critical component" in protecting local jobs and in national security. The act has won bipartisan support, Akaka said.

Hawai'i receives $272 million in taxes from the Jones Act every year, Akaka said.

Akaka was asked what the federal government can do about spiraling energy costs.

He said he is a member of the Energy Committee and "we need to wean our dependence on foreign oil."

Akaka said he has crafted bills, such as a hydrogen bill that will bring about research and development. Another is on natural gas. Both, he said, would help the United States and Hawai'i become self-sufficient.

"I've put in $36 million" to help convert sugar cane into methanol, Akaka said. "These are ways we can alleviate dependence on oil."

Case responded that high gas prices can be lowered by investigating oil companies for price gouging. "The current administration won't let (the investigations) go forward," Case said. "This is an example where Congress hasn't done its job of oversight."

Case said he agrees with Akaka that alternative fuel sources need to be developed and he would continue those efforts in the Senate.

Asked about tax cuts, Case said the national debt means that every baby born in Hawai'i and in the United States started life owing $27,000 in government debt.

Case said he believes in a pay-as-you-go system of providing for a balanced budget.

"I voted against some extensions of those tax cuts already, especially for some of those" aimed at the very wealthy while supporting some tax cuts for the middle class.

Akaka said, "we cannot make tax cuts permanent."

Future generations are so burdened by deficits, Akaka said, "that we will have a deficit of $600 billion and we will have to borrow money from China and now, Japan as well. If we cut taxes at this time, our country will be much deeper in the deficit. The Bush administration took us from a surplus to a multi-trillion-dollar deficit."

Akaka was asked whether he would support or oppose Medicare's buying power to lower prescription drug prices.

Akaka said Medicare should use its bulk purchasing power to lower drug costs. "That's one way of the ways we can help those who need healthcare," he said.

Akaka voted against the Medicare modernization act "because it falsely promises to seniors it would make prescription drugs affordable but this has not happened."

Case responded that the United States created Medicare Part D "and you think that with the market power of 40 million Americans" — the largest market in the world — prescription drug prices would be lower. "We must have bulk purchasing for Medicare Part D," Case said.

In his closing remarks, Case said the hour-long debate went quickly and that unless Akaka changes his mind, there will not be another debate.

Case said Hawai'i needs a transition in the Senate to avoid ending up like Oregon, which lost both of its senators at the same time.

Case asked whether he or Akaka can best work in a mainstream way.

"With great respect, I don't believe that Sen. Akaka has much to show for 30 years in Congress," Case said. "... This is a choice between the past and the future."

Akaka talked about the value of ohana in Hawai'i. "Things that protect workers and working families and improve the quality of life matter to you," Akaka said.

In the Senate, he said, "you persuade by the wisdom of your words, not by the force of your actions."

Akaka said "we want legislators who embrace the spirit of aloha. ... I've always held these beliefs as my own."