Charles Djou (basketball-Jones)

I don’t even know if Charles Djou is a B-ball fan being just a second-tier fan myself; my husband is guy, but he’s not happy that LA won -again.

But I am talking JONES, as in the Jones Act part of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. According to our friend WIKI, it requires that all goods transported between US ports be carried in US-flag ships, built in the United States, owned by US citizens, and 75% crewed by US citizens and US permanent residents.

Until now all Hawaii’s Congressmen and women (union lovers that they are) have been staunch supporters of the Jones Act. Then along came Djou. Nearly everyone concerned about the terrible oil rig explosion and ensuing mishandling of the clean-up agrees with Djou that the Jones Act should have been waived so that foreign entities WHO OFFERED CRITICAL ASSISTANCE WITHIN DAYS OF THE RIG’S EXPLOSION could get to the Gulf and begin remediation immediately, but it still hasn’t been waived.

Anyone in Hawaii who has at least pretended to pay attention over the years knows the Jones Act RAISES THE COST OF ALMOST EVERYTHING not grown or produced 100% in Hawaii, including all ingredients and packaging. I’m thinking Kona Brew which has come up with a new 11% lighter bottle which will save them a ton (no pun intended) when shipping empty bottles here to fill with beer.

Melia Zimmerman of Grassroot Institute of Hawaii reported, O’Keefe & Sons Bakers in Hilo had to close in 2008 largely because of the Jones Act. O’Keefe said,

“The six figures I spent on paying Matson, labor unions and shipping owners could have been spent on local salaries, growth for my business, and during the economic downturn, could have meant the survival of my business.”

Instead they’re gone like so many others. Years ago as a RE broker I learned during the County’s pathetic stab at ‘affordable” housing that the Jones Act added a minimum of $5,000 to the cost of every house built. And what about the added cost for all those mega-buck estate homes built at the resorts. Which just got dinged with a 28% property tax increase by our illustrious Mayor, “you have my word” Billy Kenoi in order to keep the Hilo golf subsidies in place for his cronies and still be able to balance the budget.

At any rate, let’s hope the Jones Act is waived for the sake of what is left of the Gulf Coast and that he will be successful in getting Hawaii permanently exempted too.

Aloha, Mikie

Dare2Kerr@gmail.com
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Off and Running!

Some of Charles Djou’s Washington staff still can’t quite pronounce his name (rhymes with da shoe), but the person who answered America’s newest Congressman’s telephone in Washington DC was friendly and courteous. Congressman Djou was elected on May 22, 2010 and is off and running!

Djou won the Special Election last Saturday held in Hawaii to fill the vacant seat (ala Scott Brown of Massachusetts) created when Neil Abercrombie resigned to return to Hawaii to run for governor.

IS HE EXCITED OR WHAT?

And Charles Djou has already signed on to his first legislative proposal, according to West Hawaii Today. It was a constitutional amendment requiring the federal government to balance its budget. The bill would prohibit most federal spending from exceeding total receipts for a given fiscal year. (isn’t this what we all do at home??) I’d say that alone qualifies him for reelection! If you would like to support and/or contact him on any Congressional issues you can do so right here.

Don’t forget to vote for him again in September’s in the primary if you are in District 1 in Hawaii -and even if you aren’t in District 1, support him financially because his election last Saturday only filled the vacant post until the end of Abercrombie’s term this November. He now has to run again in the September primary in Hawaii for reelection. He’ll need all your help again very soon!

Aloha, Mikie

Dare2Kerr@gmail.com
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Remember in November!

Stuck with Lazy-Mazie But We Can Support Conservative Djou

You may remember my optimism several weeks back when Scott Brown broke the barrier by being elected to the US Senate representing Massachusetts taking the “Kennedy” seat, which Scott Brown vehemently pointed out,

“This is the people’s seat!”

This was one of the biggest political upsets in modern history. Massachusetts has been Democratic for donkeys years and Kennedy held the seat himself for nearly 5 decades. At any rate, I was thrilled thinking if Scott Brown can pull this off in Massachusetts, then there is a chance for Hawaii. We get to tag along on the momentum as Congressman Abercrombie had to resign in order to run for Hawaii’s governor so on May 22nd we get a special election to replace him!

The Big Island though is in the 2nd Congressional district along with the other outer islands and we don’t even get to vote in the special election as it is only to replace the 1st District’s representative. He was the long shot in the beginning opposing again, 2 entrenched Democrats. Luckily however all it takes in the special election is a simple majority to win and the 2 democratic opponents are splitting  the vote. Djou is now neck and neck about a month out -just like Brown was at this time. SO WE CAN ALL  & SHOULD ALL SUPPORT CHARLES DJOU FINANCIALLY!

Hawaii is almost as Democratically entrenched as Massachusetts if not more. Our Senators, Inouye and Akaka together HAVE A TOTAL OF EIGHTY-TWO YEARS IN CONGRESS, and nobody ever expected that a Conservative like Charles Djou had even a glimmer of a chance -until that fateful day in January when Scott Brown turned things on end by winning.

We are stuck with Lazy Mazie Hirono -who cannot be bothered to answer an email except with a form letter arriving weeks later full of political greats accomplished by herself. She doesn’t believe in town hall meetings, preferring the tried and true democratic party functions. But we need to pull together and vote and/or support Charles Djou for the Congress. If you can vote for Charles, be sure you are registered to vote by April 22nd (get forms at your post office). If you cannot vote for him, please support him financially -I did!

Aloha, Mikie

Dare2Kerr@gmail.com
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Remember in November!