Miulang
May 2nd, 2007, 09:06 AM
U.S. Civil Rights Commission Staff Director Kenneth Marcus has recommended attorneys William Burgess and Paul Sullivan as candidates for the Hawaii State Advisory Committee (http://starbulletin.com/2007/05/02/news/story02.html), an independent panel that investigates civil rights issues. Both Burgess and Sullivan have written extensively against the Akaka Bill. Another nominee, James Kuroiwa Jr., who joined taxpayers in a lawsuit challenging state funding of Hawaiian programs, is another nominee.
Dave Forman, outgoing chairman of the Hawaii panel, said the Bush administration appears to be "sweeping the committees clean and putting new folks in."
"It's pretty clear that they have an agenda that they are pursuing," Forman said. "I think there's reason to be concerned."
...The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, a state agency created to manage Hawaiian programs, is "deeply troubled" by the candidates nominated by Marcus, said Martha Ross, Washington bureau chief for OHA.
"They seem to be consistently anti-indigenous," she said.
Micah Kane, chairman of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, said: "It is unfortunate that the vacancies on this Commission appear to have been filled with people based on their opposition to native Hawaiian programs. The opinions of these people do not reflect a true representation of Hawaii's perspective on this and other issues."
[Thomas]Pilla, who oversees Hawaii and eight other state committees, is refusing to send some of Marcus' candidates, including Burgess, for consideration by the eight-member commission in Washington, D.C., fearing the office could lose credibility.
Dave Forman, outgoing chairman of the Hawaii panel, said the Bush administration appears to be "sweeping the committees clean and putting new folks in."
"It's pretty clear that they have an agenda that they are pursuing," Forman said. "I think there's reason to be concerned."
...The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, a state agency created to manage Hawaiian programs, is "deeply troubled" by the candidates nominated by Marcus, said Martha Ross, Washington bureau chief for OHA.
"They seem to be consistently anti-indigenous," she said.
Micah Kane, chairman of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, said: "It is unfortunate that the vacancies on this Commission appear to have been filled with people based on their opposition to native Hawaiian programs. The opinions of these people do not reflect a true representation of Hawaii's perspective on this and other issues."
[Thomas]Pilla, who oversees Hawaii and eight other state committees, is refusing to send some of Marcus' candidates, including Burgess, for consideration by the eight-member commission in Washington, D.C., fearing the office could lose credibility.