Hawaii

Hawaii Democrats
by Zachary Greenblatt

           The state of Hawaii is a chain of rugged islands, coral reefs, and rocky shoals located in the North Pacific Ocean. It occupies all except for the 2 square miles (5 square kilometers) of the Midway Islands. The Hawaiian Archipelago is crossed near its northwestern end by the Tropic of Cancer. It is some 2,400 miles (3,860 kilometers) away from the West coast of the United States mainland.
           The mild, uniform climate of Hawaii is famous all over the world. Wide temperature changes are unknown in the state. Despite Hawaii's location in a tropical zone, cooling ocean currents keep the climate moderate. Although Hurricane Iwa caused extensive damage in 1982 and there were devastating tsunamis, or tidal waves, in 1946 and 1960, violent weather conditions are comparatively rare. The average annual temperature is about 75°F (24°C) throughout the lowlands.
            One of Hawaii's most valuable resources is its soil. Only 8 percent of the land is used for crops, yet agriculture is one of Hawaii's major sources of wealth. Hawaii's fertile soil is composed of lava ash and soft, sandy stone. In places it has yielded 11 tons of sugar per acre, the largest yield on Earth. Because of the mild climate and fertile soil, the crop year never ends. Pineapple and sugar plantations operate in both summer and winter.
            Of the present population about one out of every three citizens is a member of the Caucasian race, with fully a third of mixed ancestry. They include Japanese, Hawaiian, Chinese, Spanish, German, Korean, Puerto Rican, Filipino, Portuguese, Indian, Samoan, Vietnamese, and Anglo-Saxon.
             The population of Hawaii in the 1990 census was 1,115,274. This was an increase of 150,583, or 13.5 percent, since 1980. The two largest racial groups are the Caucasians and the Japanese, followed by Hawaiians, Filipinos, and Chinese.
             Hawaii's constitution is patterned after the Constitution of the United States. It provides for an elected governor and a two-chamber legislature. A governor is limited to two consecutive terms. Hawaii sends two senators and two representatives to the United States Congress. It is the only state that has but two levels of government--state and county. There are no municipalities or other smaller government jurisdictions in the state.
             Until the mid-1950s Republicans dominated the legislative elections. Hawaii was among the few states that supported the losing Democratic candidates in the presidential elections of 1968, 1980, and 1988. In 1974 Hawaii's George R. Ariyoshi became the first state governor of Oriental ancestry. He was succeeded by John Waihee, the first elected governor of Hawaiian ancestry. The first Democratic representative from Hawaii (1959-63) was Daniel K. Inouye, who was the first Japanese American Congressman; he was elected to the Senate in 1962.
           Hawaii DEMOCRATS passed the first ever Violence Against Women Act which is combating domestic violence with more support for law enforcement, additional prosecutors, a national hotline, more shelters and counseling. As a result, Hawaii receives $976,000 in federal funds to bolster victim's services, law enforcement and women's shelters. Republicans voted against the Violence Against Women Act . DEMOCRATS passed the Family and Medical Leave Act which gives 12 weeks unpaid leave to Americans for the birth of a child, illness of a child, spouse or parent, and for a worker's illness. 15 million families have already benefited from this legislation. Republicans repeatedly opposed passage and expansion of the Family and Medical Leave Act. DEMOCRATS gave women a pay raise. When they passed an increase in the minimum wage, over 6 million women benefited from this pay raise. Republicans steadfastly opposed an increase in the minimum wage. DEMOCRATS increased small business loans to women entrepreneurs. In 1997, the Small Business Administration granted more than 10,000 loans to women, triple the number of loans granted to women in 1992.
           Republicans complain that Hawaii's economy is flat. Democrats enacted the Small Business Regulatory Relief Act to ensure that small businesses aren't overly burdened by unnecessary government regulations. Democrats are attracting large high technology companies to Hawaii, such as Uniden and Square USA, that contribute financially to the local economy. These companies also hire local talent and assist in developing educational training programs at the University of Hawaii.
           Democrats created a $1 billion Capital Improvements Program aimed at school facilities that generated jobs for Hawaii's construction industry. Democrats provided an income tax exemption to motion picture and television products made in Hawaii.
           Democrats set deadlines for government permitting approvals, and consolidated application review of development projects. Democrats are Improving Hawaii's Economy!
Education!   DEMOCRATS DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
           Republicans complain that Hawaii's public school system needs to be fixed. Democrats made education a top priority during a time when all other state operations faced severe budget cuts. Democrats implemented school/community based management principles (SCBM), allowing each school to respond to the specific needs of the community and children it serves. Democrats provided Hawaii teachers with a 17% pay raise, added 7 days to the school year, and added more than 900 classrooms to Hawaii's schools. Democrats have enacted reforms that give the University of Hawaii the autonomy needed to develop its full potential, while still assuring the responsible use of taxpayer money. Democrats negotiated an agreement for the University of Hawaii's West Oahu campus at Kapolei. Democrats Do GREAT THINGS     For Hawaii's Future! ON CRIME Republicans Talk! Talk! Talk!   DEMOCRATS DELIVER! DELIVER! DELIVER!
Hawaii Republicans say that nothing's being done to stem criminal activities.
           Hawaii Democrats reduced violent crimes dramatically. Hawaii ranks 42nd in the nation for incidence of violent criminal acts. Hawaii Democrats are alleviating prison overcrowding by transferring prisoners to the mainland. Hawaii Democrats enacted legislation that allows the Governor to enter into contracts with private companies to develop correctional facilities, with lease or purchase by the State. This measure will expedite prison construction, and further resolve Hawaii prison overcrowding.
           Hawaii Democrats are cleaning up prostitution in Waikiki, passing legislation with stiffer fines and penalties. DEMOCRATS Walk the Talk!
           Democrats acquired Queens Beach to preserve the Ka`Iwi coastline. Democrats established the national whale marine sanctuary in Hawaiian waters. Democrats passed the Endangered Species Recovery Act to protect the recovery of endangered and threatened species in their habitats and nearly doubled the funding for aquatic programs to effectively manage   Hawaii's streams, coral reefs and fish stocks. Democrats enacted Part II of the Environmental Response Law, which provides the development community with a mechanism to voluntarily clean up properties contaminated with hazardous substances,    pollutants, or contaminants. DEMOCRATS know GREEN means Beautiful and Clean Environment!
           Democrats expanded the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program and protected it from extreme Republican cuts. 40 million students benefit from this program in 97% of America's school districts. Republicans voted to CUT drug-free schools. After all of their tough talk about drugs, they voted to cut $64 billion from the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program. The President vetoed this. But the Republicans are continuing to push for cuts.
           Democrats support legislation that would require child safety locks to be on every handgun sold in the country, and punish adults who improperly store a gun that is used by a child in a crime. Republicans in the Senate killed an amendment to require all handguns sold in the U.S. to be equipped with trigger locks to prevent accidents. They also rejected efforts to punish adults who improperly store a gun that is used by a child in a crime.
           IN FACT, Republicans fulfilled their promise to the National Rifle Association and voted to repeal the ban on 19 types of deadly assault weapons!
           IN FACT, Republicans have taken $12 million from the National Rifle Association since 1977.
Democrats Keep Our Children and Youth Alive!
           REPUBLICANS are DEADLY FORCE!
Republicans killed anti-teen smoking legislation which would have stopped big tobacco from marketing to children and teens. WHY? Because big tobacco companies reportedly gave the Republicans $12 million in campaign contributions in the last 3-1/2 years. Democrats stood up to big tobacco companies to protect our youth by working to stop them from marketing to children and teens. By 2003, Hawaii is projected to see a combined 35% cut in youth smoking and resulting premature deaths. Republicans voted to slash children's health care by cutting Medicaid by $170 billion. More than 18 million children would have been denied health care.
           Democrats passed the single largest investment in children's health care since 1965, under Democratic President Lyndon Johnson, giving health care coverage to over 5 million uninsured children. The balanced budget provides $9 million for Hawaii's uninsured children. The House Republicans' budget denies safe child care to 400,000 children. Democrats are fighting for safe and quality child care and after-school programs. Democrats Keep Our Children and Youth Alive! Republicans Show No Respect to Our Senior Citizens!
           Democrats' economic programs gave us the first budget surplus in a generation. Democrats want to use that surplus to protect Social Security for seniors and when baby boomers retire. Republicans opposed using the budget surplus and instead wanted to squander the surplus on hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts targeted to the wealthy.
           Democrats are working to expand Medicare by letting people aged 62 and 65, and displaced workers aged 55 to 65 buy into Medicare. Republicans tried to slash Medicare by $270 billion, calling any expanded Medicare a "mistake". The Republican Medicare cuts were three times greater than what was necessary to keep Medicare solvent.
           Democrats continue to protect the elderly patients by fighting for a Patient's Bill of Rights which will stop HMs from putting corporate profits before patients' health. Republicans voted to cut nursing home standards which would have removed the current guarantee that long term nursing care for the elderly is safe.