Schatz at helm is a good match

I am very pleased to see Neil Abercrombie proposing the creation of the Hawaii Fair Share Initiative and putting Brian Schatz in charge.

There are many, many opportunities for Hawaii to compete for federal grants and make good use of them throughout our community. Having an experienced person like Brian Schatz heading up the effort is a perfect match.

School board needs a change

Furloughs, lagging test scores and underachievement are the status quo in our education system.

I respect those on the state Board of Education who have stood up to speak on behalf of Hawaii’s children, but they have been unable to make headway in the midst of a challenging political system.

An appointed school board would help alleviate such challenges by bringing about organizational alignment, reducing conflicting agendas, and holding the governor account- able for the state of our educational system. 

Focus on flu shot was ridiculous

Hawaii and America’s future hang in the balance, but the local press is fixated on the fact that Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona didn’t want to get a flu shot.

Are you kidding me?

Here’s an idea: How about the press focus on issues that are important to Hawaii’s future? I’d love to see someone ask Neil Abercrombie why he rejected an investigation into pay-to-play earmark schemes, or voted against anti-terrorism measures and support for Israel. Why did he approve bonuses for Wall Street executives? And how about those earmarks for his campaign contributors?

Instead, the press is apoplectic about a flu shot. No wonder it’s lost credibility with voters.

Aiona should know better

Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona’s opposition to sharing the same civil rights that the straight community enjoy with gay couples is wrong-headed and legally indefensible, especially coming from a former judge.

There is no sound reason for his position, except political or religious, and Aiona, as a public official, should know better not to impose his religious views on others.

In any event, the institution of marriage between a man and a woman was never at risk by HB 444.

Isle group fights Medicaid fraud

The Senior Medicare Patrol project cheered the news that the state will recover tens of millions of dollars in Medicaid overpayments to pharmaceutical companies ("Drug suit could net millions for state," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 26).

Established in 1996 by federal law and administered by the U.S. Administration on Aging, the SMP program fights Medicare and Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse through ongoing nationwide educational campaigns at the grassroots level. Recently, seniors at The Good Life Expo Hawaii Seniors Fair told SMP Hawaii they came across errors such as double-billing and billing for services not rendered.

SMP Hawaii may be reached at (808) 586-7281 or 1-800-296-9422. 

Campaign financing demands reform and transparency

Political ads flood the airwaves, costing big bucks so candidates and initiatives can compete with each other. The amount of money spent on campaigns is just plain scary.

California governor hopeful Meg Whitman has spent an astonishing $140 million.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent $10 million in one week on ads to defeat candidates across the country, with plans to spend $75 million total by the general election. The Chamber is suspected of funneling international money into the ads, allowing foreign governments to influence our elections.

Last January, the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision opened the floodgates for unbridled corporate spending on elections.

Federal Elections Commission figures indicate that the percentage of groups disclosing names of donors for election ads has dropped precipitously.

All of us should be concerned about campaign finance costs and who funds political advertising. To maintain a government of the people, by the people, for the people, we desperately need campaign financing reform and transparency of funding.