Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 24, Number 8, 1 ʻAukake 2007 — Kālā kūikawā (special money) [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kālā kūikawā (special money)

Walter M. Heen TrustEE, O'ahu

I'm positive that nearly everyone has heard the term "pork barrel spending." It's a criticism of the practice by U.S. Senate or House members of inserting funds in the national budget to provide for services or projects that are important to his or her home state. Such funds are called "earmarked" funds, and the practice has been subjected to heavy criticism by many government observers and commentators. Indeed, there is rather widespread clamor to discontinue the practice. (I apologize for the rather loose translation in the title of this article. It's the best I could do with my limited knowledge of our language.) The purpose of this article is to show how the practice of earmarking, particularly by U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, is highly beneficial to Hawai'i and Native Hawaiians. But, first, let's acknowledge some of the criticism. Some critics say that the practice expands the budget submitted by the president and drastically increases the national debt while adding very little of importance to the nation as a whole. But the argument assumes that the executive budget is omniscient and includes every program or project that is of importance to eaeh state or eaeh community. Moreover, the executive budget is skewed in favor of programs that may be important only to the executive branch. Finally, the function of Congress is to establish public policy and to use the budget to do so. As Sen. Inouye said recently, "Lawmakers play a key role in addressing the unique needs of their home state. Just because a funding request was not made by the president does not mean that the request is without merit." Over the years, Sen. Inouye has eonsistently provided immense benefits to our state through earmarks, and this year's budget reveals he continues to do so. Sen. Inouye recently report-

ed that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $153 million for projects important to Hawai'i. Of that amount, $134.8 million will provide for health, educational and social service programs for Native Hawaiians, OHA's beneficiaries. Here is a list of some Native Hawaiian programs receiving federal funding: • $14.2 million for Papa Ola Lōkahi/ Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems; • $34.5 million for Native Hawaiian education; • $6.25 million for Native Hawaiian higher education; • $1.5 million to Bishop Museum for cultural and historical educational programs; • $685,000 to establish an experimental tropical forest; and • $285,000 for a Hawaiian culture and arts program. And, of course, the budget bills include other earmarks that benefit the community as a whole, such as: • $2.4 million for the Maui Community College's Rural Job Training Project; • $20 million for emergency medical services for children; • $46 million for school districts impacted by dependents of armed forces members and government employees; • $1 million to establish pharmacy training at University of Hawai'i at Hilo; • $2.67 million for brown tree snake control; and • $700,000 to assist the state in dealing with invasive species. If it were not for Sen. Inouye's strategic and determined use of the earmarking process, many activities and programs that are so important to the wellbeing of our state in general, and Native Hawaiians in particular, could not have been established or continued. So the next time someone grumbles to you about the practice of earmarking, remember that those earmarks provide sustenance and vigor to our entire state and to Native Hawaiians. OHA's primary function is to provide for the well-being of our beneficiaries, and we thank Sen. Inouye for his use of earmarks in our behalf. E

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