Posted on 10/30/2002 8:37:41 PM PST by Mensch
HONOLULU -- The Hawaii Democratic Party is paying the huge bill for the Clinton visit. Public worker unions were originally going to cover the costs.
The Republican Party said Democrats are breaking the law by coordinating the rallies with Mazie Hirono's campaign.
The event was planned for more than two months and originally, the Hawaii Government Employees Association and its parent union, AFSCME, were going to pay for the Clinton trip. However, Democrats said there was a last-minute change of plans that left them scrambling to pay a big bill for Bill.
HGEA paid for the rental of Kauai Veterans Center and other initial expenses for Clinton's visit. However, spokespeople for the union and Democratic Party said just about a week ago they decided that the state Democratic Party and not the public workers union should pay for the entire visit.
"It's possible that the union might have already given the maximum amount, and were concerned that if they gave more, they would go over the limits," Campaign Spending Director Bob Watada said.
The problem is that the events became political rallies for Hirono and the expenses would have greatly exceeded the $6,000 contribution limit to her campaign.
So the Democratic Party said it's now paying the approximately $100,000 tab for the Clinton visit, including his airfare, security, rentals and other expenses.
Republicans are crying foul.
"It's a blatant violation of the law, in our opinion," Hawaii GOP Chairman Micah Kane said.
Breaking the law, Republicans say, because Hirono and running mate Matt Matsunaga are appearing with Clinton at the rallies.
State campaign spending law says contributions on coordinated activities cannot exceed $6,000. The Kauai rally cost about $100,000.
"Based on that fact alone, it's clear it's not an independent expenditure. It's a coordinated event," Lingle campaign attorney Nelson Befitel said.
KITV 4 News asked Watada if Hirono and Matsunaga appearing at the rallies amounted to coordination.
"It gets into a gray area. I'm not sure. I'd have to look at the exact facts of the situation," Watada said.
A Democratic party spokeswoman did not return phone calls by KITV 4 News to comment on the Republican's complaints.
Clinton, who usually charges anywhere from $75,000-$350,000 per speech, did not charging Democrats for his appearances around the islands, officials said. The party is just paying for the expenses of his visit, KITV 4 News reported.
Two weeks ago, he came home from Boston, after he flunked out of BU (40K/yr) and said he was "tired." A week later, he cracked up his car; after he pumped $1,200 into the sound system. I sold him the car eight months ago for 7 grand. It only took him a short time to destroy a car that I nurtured for three years.
The MTV generation is the most irresponsible bunch of people I've ever met. Can any of these people wear a pair of slacks that don't drag on the floor with 900 pockets that serve no purpose.
I've turned off the dollars. My wife still coddles the kid.
Personally, I'd throw the kid into the United States Navy, and let the hard-assed sailors shift his attitude.
Sorry for the rant. Maybe some of the younger folks around here might get a taste of frustration parents go through when a 22 YO kid is still on the losing end of life's lifespan.
Cheers
My son is now 24, and in hindsight (which is always 20/20), I can see that we gave him too much. He moved out a couple of years ago, and one of his purchases was a webbed lawn chair. While under our care, he trashed two cars, was exceptionally careless with expensive items we purchased for him over the years. But that chair -- he bought it himself, with his own money, and he took better care of it than anything we ever bought him.
It's a little late to make a long story short, but I'll sum up quickly. He moved back home (still taking excellent care of that damned chair), and a year later, he joined the Navy. He's been in the Navy for a year now, and it has really been good for him.
So don't give up -- hope reigns eternal (or however that expression goes).
Then keep a close eye on Oregon. They're putting Hillary's Universal Health Care up for a vote Tuesday, and it looks like it may pass. I always figured California would chase away all of its businesses first.
Yeah, they had to wipe the whole island down with CloroxTM when Bubba left.
Two possible reasons: Direct contributions (of this magnitude) to a local candidates election are illegal, but if Bill can get locals to pony up legal amounts even though he gets paid with the trip can skirt limits.
The real answer, though, was this was just to get out the vote, pure and simple.
Your right this is a good issue for them.
They did.
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