Operation Offset: Eliminate Native Hawaiian Funding
Republicans have proposed "Operation Offset" as a
facade of fiscal responsibility including a conservative laundry list of agenda
items that they're now using the tragedy of Katrina to
push.
Guess what it includes?
Here's the proposal (PDF).
I think those who support the Akaka bill could look at this and try to argue that the bill would define Hawaiians as a political group ("tribe" of sorts) instead of a racial group, and could therefore provide some protection for these funds.
My take, though, is that this is just the quick justification used in the proposal, because of the current debate over Hawaiians' status, and that in reality Congress can just cut any funding for Hawaiian programs for whatever reason they please, and I don't think the Akaka bill would actually do much if anything to protect this funding. I also think that a lot of the funding is due to Inouye's seniority and influence, as a kind of pork, and that it will be in greater jeopardy once he retires, with or without the Akaka bill.
Even if this and many other proposed cuts don't happen right away, at least now we know explicitly that cutting Hawaiian programs is part of the Republican national agenda, just in case anyone wondered.
Something else to think about, though... $40 million may sound like a lot, but with about 400,000 Native Hawaiians in total, that amounts to $100 per person, per year. One hundred dollars. Big whoop. Now compare that to the $26,600 or so in debt to which the federal government has obligated each of us, largely through its tax cuts for wealthy Americans and that other occupation over in Iraq. Just to put things in perspective.
Here's much blog discussion about the proposal in general.
Guess what it includes?
Eliminate Native Hawaiian Funding
The FY06 Labor/HHS appropriations bill contained earmarks for as much as $40 million for various health and education programs for Native Hawaiians, although other programs allow funds to flow to them. Native Hawaiians are a racial group not a tribe and dispensing benefits to them would likely be subject to strict scrutiny in Federal courts. Savings: $557 million over ten years ($215 million over five years)
Here's the proposal (PDF).
I think those who support the Akaka bill could look at this and try to argue that the bill would define Hawaiians as a political group ("tribe" of sorts) instead of a racial group, and could therefore provide some protection for these funds.
My take, though, is that this is just the quick justification used in the proposal, because of the current debate over Hawaiians' status, and that in reality Congress can just cut any funding for Hawaiian programs for whatever reason they please, and I don't think the Akaka bill would actually do much if anything to protect this funding. I also think that a lot of the funding is due to Inouye's seniority and influence, as a kind of pork, and that it will be in greater jeopardy once he retires, with or without the Akaka bill.
Even if this and many other proposed cuts don't happen right away, at least now we know explicitly that cutting Hawaiian programs is part of the Republican national agenda, just in case anyone wondered.
Something else to think about, though... $40 million may sound like a lot, but with about 400,000 Native Hawaiians in total, that amounts to $100 per person, per year. One hundred dollars. Big whoop. Now compare that to the $26,600 or so in debt to which the federal government has obligated each of us, largely through its tax cuts for wealthy Americans and that other occupation over in Iraq. Just to put things in perspective.
Here's much blog discussion about the proposal in general.
Posted: Thu - September 29, 2005 at 11:53 AM
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By Scott Crawford - Hana, Maui
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Published On: Dec 27, 2005 10:15 PM
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