Mahalo Mazie for your Support of Teachers, Firefighters and Police

August 12, 2010

Honolulu, Hawaii—In the special one-day session on August 10th, the House passed the $26.1 billion Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act.  President Obama has already signed the bill into law.  The $26.1 billion bill is budget neutral because it is balanced by closing a loophole for corporations that employ workers overseas.

Candidate for Congress Colleen Hanabusa says “I want to express my thanks to Congresswoman Mazie Hirono for her continuing support of the people of Hawai`i. Her “Yea” vote on the Education, Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act helped pass a bill which will help Hawai`i’s teachers, firefighters and police.” 

Hanabusa also noted her disappointment that D’Jou had cast a “Nay” vote and that he went so far as to call the bill a “political ploy.”

“Mazie happened to be on KSSK’s Perry and Price show this week, and she was fired up about the Education, Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act.  We can certainly count on Mazie Hirono to have our backs,” says Hanabusa.

Colleen Hanabusa has served in Hawai`i’s Senate since 1998, and has been Senate President since 2007.  She is the first woman elected by her peers to serve as Senate President.  For more information, go to http://www.hanabusa2010.com.

HR 1586: The bill includes $10 billion in funding to save teacher jobs; and $16.1 billion in health assistance to the states that, by reducing shortfalls, will help keep many others on the job, including police officers and firefighters.  Both the education funding and the health assistance have been passed by the House twice over the last several months.

It will save or create 700 education jobs in Hawaii (House Committee on Education & Labor).