Posted on 09/07/2005 7:59:35 PM PDT by SmithL
HONOLULU - A delay in a U.S. Senate vote on a bill that would grant federal recognition to Native Hawaiians is giving Hawaii's governor a chance to lobby senators who fear it could lead to Hawaii's secession from the union.
"That's a ridiculous claim and a ridiculous argument," Gov. Linda Lingle said. "We have over 500 recognized Indian tribes in America. They don't secede. They simply get a federal recognition that allows them to avoid these kinds of lawsuits that Hawaiians have faced."
On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist canceled a planned Tuesday vote on ending a filibuster against the bill so the Senate could act instead on emergency legislation related to Hurricane Katrina.
Lingle, who was in Washington lobbying for the bill, said she was disappointed that the vote was put on hold, though she understood the urgency of Katrina action.
And she said the postponement allowed her to speak with senators whose objection centered on the secession fears.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Hmmm....there go two senators from the Democratic Party.....hmmmm
Translation: Hawaiians are going to get into the casino business. Watch and see.
I hope it doesn't even pass. It opens the door for any miniority with a invented gripe to try to push for federal recognition.
The hawaiian situation is completely different than indians. They weren't hunted down and forced onto reservations.
The hawaiians have always been treated well and integrated well into the society that hawaii created. They have been treated with a lot of respect.
The problem is for many years now, the corrupt democrats in that state have done everything they can to promote class warfare to pander to votes.
I can't believe Lingle is so intent on passing this legislation -- I mean, I am startled, really I am. Lingle is a Republican but I now think she's another RINO based upon this legislaton alone and her "upset" about the idea that there isn't the support for it that she probably assumed there would be.
ON THE OTHER HAND...
Bush vetoes nothing.
I've been saying that every time a thread like this comes up. It's all about the casino.
I guess they think welfare comes from faries?
As a Hawaii resident, I can tell you that even under the best case scenario it means chaos in Hawaii for decades to come.
The bill expressly talks about the State of Hawaii giving up governmental powers, land and natural resources to the new "Native Hawaiian Governing Entity." This is what it says (sounds like secession to me):
"Upon the reaffirmation of the political and legal relationship between the United States and the Native Hawaiian governing entity, the United States and the State of Hawaii may enter into negotiations with the Native Hawaiian governing entity designed to lead to an agreement addressing such matters as—
(A) the transfer of lands, natural resources, and other assets, and the protection of existing rights related to such lands or resources;
(B) the exercise of governmental authority over any transferred lands, natural resources, and other assets, including land use;
(C) the exercise of civil and criminal jurisdiction;
(D) the delegation of governmental powers and authorities to the Native Hawaiian governing entity by the United States and the State of Hawaii; and
(E) any residual responsibilities of the United States and the State of Hawaii."
And there will be no input of Hawaii's citizens in the matter. Instead, there will be "negotiation" between the U.S., the State of Hawaii, and the new Government.
The whole concept of this thing goes totally against the conditions of Hawaii's admission to the Union in the first place. Which by the way, Native Hawaiians voted overwhelminingly in favor of Statehood.
Imagine if you lived in Louisiana and Congress passed a law giving the state back to the French? (Or more accurately, to the Kingdom of France which doesn't exist any more but whose relationship with the U.S. is being "reaffirmed.")
. . .On second thought, that's not such a bad idea.
Pres.Bush thinks veto is a mob hit man.
Hawaii is about the only state in the US that doesn't allow casinos in state. The only casinos that operate are on cruise ships when out at sea.
Something tells me that the state government and the hawaiians have cut a deal. This way the state will recieve a big cut of the casino revenues and the hawaiians get to sit on their asses and do nothing and become millionaires overnight. If Hawaii just opened up the state to gambling like vegas or reno, the state wouldn't recieve as much in taxes. The casino companies would take most of it. This way, the state and hawaiians get to keep most of it themselves.
The Hawaii state government is always desperate for tax revenue. THe thugish unions rule that island with an iron fist and rob the state government and hotel operators blind. They are going to want to get their hands into the casinos any way they can. And guess who wins elections if they pander to the union thugs in that state?
Hawaii basically spent the entire 1990's in a recession after the japanese ecnomoy collapsed and all their investment dollars went away. Now they look around at what Macau and Vegas have done. I mean common, Casinos in Hawaii will be total goldmine. This will get the japanese to come back with their wallets too.
If this passes, Hawaii shouldn't be allowed to secede. WE AMERICANS should throw them out of our Union on their asses.
Texas doesn't allow casinos...it's the other state that doesnt allow them.
Yahh, I know there is a few that doesn't allow them.
Texas really doesn't need them. You have a very pro-business environment down there and don't pander to unions.
Hawaii a very different beast. The casino issue is extremely complicated in that state.
It could bring a lot of positives, but it will be a lot of negatives as well.
I was born and raised there. Going back there in the 90's was very depressing. THe state was in a long time recession. I always thought casinos would be a good way to boost state revenues and add a lot of jobs.
But to give the hawaiians their own government is crazy. Its a stupid way to go about this.
The best thing would be for Hawaii to create a agency in charge of overseeing the casino business. They would have a lot of public visibility to keep corruption out.
The rules for casinos operating on Hawaii land would be very strict. There wouldn't be card rooms on every corner. Only certain areas would be allowed to have them. And a certain percentage of casino revenues would go towards school funding, highway projects, state parks, etc....
Let 'em go ... that will mean 2-fewer Democrat Senators and 2-fewer Democrat Members of the House of Representatives. Good riddance.
Buh bye.
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