Group ranks Isle reps at bottom
By Dennis Camire
Advertiser Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste ranked Hawai'i's congressional delegation among the lowest in its 2007 vote ratings released Wednesday.
The group, which tracks federal spending, reported that for the 35 votes it selected for the ratings, U.S. Sens. Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel K. Akaka were among the 13 senators — all Democrats — who scored 0 percent. The overall Senate average score was 36 percent, with Republicans averaging 67 percent and Democrats 5 percent.
In the House, U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, also a Democrat, was one of two House members who scored 0 percent on the 100 House votes used for the ratings. The other was U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md.
U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono scored 1 percent.
The 100 House votes included 50 amendments relating to earmarks. The average score for all House members was 30 percent, with Republicans averaging 60 percent and Democrats 5 percent.
"Groups like this seem to oppose using tax dollars to pay for the federal services and programs that taxpayers want," Abercrombie said.
Abercrombie noted that some of the votes were on spending for the armed forces, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration, Medicare and a number of other functions "that make our lives safer and better."
"I'm proud to have a zero rating from them because it means I'm doing a good job for the people of Hawai'i," Abercrombie said.
The citizens group released a report earlier this year that showed Hawai'i received almost $220.63 per resident for earmarked federal spending this year, ranking second nationally to Alaska, which received $555.54 per capita.
The national average was $30.55.
Reach Dennis Camire at dcamire@gns.gannett.com.