Hanabusa for Congress

Hawaii has little appetite for the often brutal partisan brawling between Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill. Even so, some of the most important issues that divide the parties in Washington, D.C., also divide them here. Moreover, these issues are not abstractions. They affect our everyday lives, from our access to health care to the amount of taxes we pay.

Voters in urban Honolulu’s 1st Congressional District must choose between two respected candidates who preach bipartisanship, but whose views differ sharply on key issues. The better choice for the U.S. House is Democratic U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who offers a more thoughtful and sensible approach than that of her rival, Republican former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou.

Hanabusa would preserve the Affordable Care Act, a hard-won health care reform plan that will gain full force in 2014. Already, millions of American are benefiting from ACA, including those with pre-existing conditions and those who can remain on their parent’s health insurance until age 26.

Djou has said he would vote to repeal Obamacare — as Republicans in the House have done 33 times, for purely political reasons — because it does not contain medical malpractice liability reform or the ability to sell insurance policies across state lines. But these changes wouldn’t be nearly enough to reform a health care system whose costs are spiraling out of control while leaving 48 million people uninsured. And neither Djou nor the GOP offer a credible, comprehensive alternative.

Hanabusa also favors repealing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest taxpayers while supporting President Barack Obama’s so-called "balanced approach" to cut the federal deficit by $4 trillion through a combination of spending cuts and tax increases. This approach, while criticized by some for its fiscal assumptions, is based in part on actions already taken by Obama and Congress. It’s a realistic plan. Djou, who made his refusal to vote for any tax increase a hallmark of his previous campaigns, would extend the Bush-era tax cuts unless Congress comes up with a comprehensive solution as articulated by the Simpson- Bowles commission.

Djou also favors a balanced-budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution, line-item veto authority for the president, and extending the moratorium on earmarks. These are all fine talking points for a political speech. However, with the exception of the earmark ban — a dubious proposition that simply turns over spending decisions to the White House — it’s highly unlikely that these ideas will ever come to pass.

On other issues, the two candidates appear less divided. Both support a strong military presence in the Asia-Pacific region, but are willing to cut the Pentagon’s spending to reduce waste; both support the immigration reforms of the Dream Act; and both support the Akaka Bill.

Both promise to look after Hawaii’s interests first, and the demands of their parties second. But no congressman, especially a junior member, can ignore the partisan nature of conducting business on Capitol Hill. "Party matters up there," Hanabusa said.

She’s right. Just as important as policy positions are the negotiating skills and intellectual depth our representatives bring to the job. Hanabusa demonstrates deep knowledge of the nuts and bolts of legislation — no doubt the fruits of her extensive experience as a legislator, as state Senate president and full-term congresswoman. Such experience is crucial in negotiating favorably for Hawaii, especially in a hostile environment. Her public answers to complex questions about foreign and domestic policy, from the use of drones to the details of Medicare reform, reflect an understanding of issues that goes beyond the basics. She voted with her party 95 percent of the time but is not a rubber stamp. She has found common ground with Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee and has challenged the president’s policies in Afghanistan and Libya.

Since her days in the state Legislature, Hanabusa has earned a reputation for being a tireless worker and negotiator. She is best equipped to represent Hawaii’s interests and values in Congress. Voters should return her to another term in the U.S. House.