U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz on Thursday night tried to undercut U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa’s main political strength — her legislative experience — by claiming that she often talks about her record in the state Senate because she has not been very active in Congress. Hanabusa countered by suggesting that Schatz has embellished his record in the Senate.
In their final debate before the August primary, the two Democrats had several prickly exchanges over effectiveness, even though neither has yet been in a position in Washington, D.C., to have a significant influence on federal policy.
Schatz has served in the Senate for only 18 months, while Hanabusa has been in the minority in the House for the past four years, yet they are asking voters to measure often fine distinctions.
"I think you’ll notice that Colleen focuses — really zeroes in — on her state legislative record," Schatz said of the former state Senate president. "And I think the question in front of voters is, How have we performed in the Congress?"
Schatz said Hanabusa does not have an active or distinguished record as a federal legislator. He said, in comparison, that he is the chairman of Senate subcommittees on tourism and water and power, has secured money for the East-West Center and has prioritized issues such as expanding Social Security benefits, promoting clean energy and making college more affordable.
"She’s got plenty to say about what’s wrong with the legislation I’ve introduced, but she hasn’t done very much in these key priority areas," he said.
Hanabusa sarcastically gave Schatz high marks for "just simply saying things, because he doesn’t really have the record that he claims he has."
The congresswoman said Schatz’s subcommittee chairmanships have not produced legislation and that bills like the one to expand Social Security benefits have not advanced.
Asked whether Schatz was exaggerating or lying about his record, Hanabusa said, "I don’t think Brian lies about it. I think that he may embellish or he may exaggerate."
Schatz cited as his proudest accomplishment his work to help end a labor dispute at United Airlines that will keep quality jobs at airports in the islands. Hanabusa pointed to her work on Hawaii-related provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2015.
In their sharpest policy clash, Hanabusa challenged Schatz on why he supports President Barack Obama’s decision to send 1,000 United States military troops, Apache helicopters and drones to Iraq to calm sectarian violence.
Schatz said that he, like Hanabusa, opposes a U.S. military escalation in Iraq, but defended the troop deployment to protect the U.S. Embassy.
"I think the only difference between the two of us on this issue, actually, is that you’re running ads about it," he said.
Hanabusa said that if the U.S. Embassy is in danger in Iraq, diplomatic personnel should be withdrawn.
"We shouldn’t put in troops to try and protect them, because you don’t know what the situation is going to be," she said, adding that the troops there now are engaged in training and anti-terrorism missions.
For the second straight debate, Hanabusa sought to connect Schatz with Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who appointed him in December 2012 to replace the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. The congresswoman chided Schatz for not fighting Abercrombie’s failed pension tax proposal in 2011.
"When it really mattered, you did nothing to stop Gov. Abercrombie," she said. "Why were you so afraid to speak up in public for your, and for our, kupuna? Can’t you just stand up to your mentor and disagree with him publicly? How can Hawaii count on you to be an independent vote in the Senate if you can’t even do that for our kupuna?"
Schatz said he disagreed with Abercrombie on the pension tax.
"But Colleen, this is another example of your desire to talk about everything under the sun except your record in the United States House and my record in the United States Senate," he said.
Pressed on whether he has distanced himself from Abercrombie, who is facing a difficult Democratic primary against state Sen. David Ige, Schatz said that he is running against Hanabusa and that both he and the congresswoman have to stand on their own.
"This is an important race, and I think the basic question in front of the people of the state of Hawaii is, ‘Who’s been more effective in the job?’ " he said. "I have been more effective than Colleen in the job."
Schatz said that he continues to be "loyal to my friends in politics, but that’s not what this race is about," adding, "This race is about who’s best going to represent Hawaii in the Senate."
Hanabusa said Schatz would not be in the Senate today without Abercrombie.
"Maybe it’s just the way we’re raised and how we look at loyalty and how we look at honor," she said, "but I think that that is something that says a lot about the candidate."
The one-hour debate, moderated by Tannya Joaquin of Hawaii News Now, was sponsored by Hawaii News Now and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Schatz and Hanabusa have had five debates — three televised statewide on network television — that have given primary voters a flavor of how they contrast on the same stage.
