Republican puts hold on (Native Hawaiian) federal recognition bill

[KamaAina]

Here we go again...

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Jul/25/ln/ln01a.html

It's one of those "anonymous holds" that Senators use when, for instance, they do not wish to announce that they are ignorant bigots in public.

At stake is the so-called "Akaka Bill" (after sponsor Daniel Akaka, D-HI, who is of Native Hawaiian ancestry), which would grant Federal recognition to Native Hawaiians on roughly the same basis as the over 500 American Indian tribal nations currently enjoy. Absent this recognition, the far right Federalist Society types have been having a field day getting courts to strike down Federal programs for Native Hawaiians as "unconstitutional race-based preferences". :puke: (oh, us poor, put-upon white people </sarcasm>)We were nearly able to get it passed while Clinton was still in office to sign it, then this "anonymous hold" issue came up.

A Senate Republican has placed an anonymous hold on a Native Hawaiian federal recognition bill, making it unlikely that the bill will be debated before the Senate breaks next week for summer recess.

Similar tactics have effectively stalled the bill in the Senate since it was first proposed in 2000, but Hawai'i lawmakers said they will continue to talk with their colleagues and the Bush administration about breaking the stalemate....

The legislation, known as the Akaka bill, would allow Native Hawaiians to form their own sovereign government that could be recognized by the United States, similar to the governing structures adopted by the American Indians and Native Alaskans. The Department of Interior would compile a list of Hawaiians eligible and willing to participate in the new government.

Supporters believe the bill could give Hawaiians more political power and, possibly, some legal protection for native programs that have been challenged in court as unconstitutional race-based preferences.

The culprit, last year at least, is believed to be James Inhofe of Oklahoma. In addition to being an ignorant bigot, Inhofe has the further motivation of trying to protect all that Federal money that comes into Oklahoma for American Indian programs there. Can't have those pesky Hawaiians dipping into the pot, now can we, James?

Of note is that even our Repuke governor is in favor of the bill, and was even ready to go to Washington to lobby for it. Thus, Inhofe (or whoever) shows that he's behind even the Repuke curve on this one.

[Nambe]

1. Perhaps a big bug bomb would calm those nasty wasps down.

Isn't there a long standing drive for secession by the Natives. Wish I could help.

[Aaron]

2. Add this to the list of things to pass when Dems retake the Senate (n/t)