Rail funding baton handed over

The late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye is given credit for Thursday’s federal decision to provide its full 2014 funding share of $250 million for Honolulu’s planned rail project and the impetus should propel the rail forward.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Inouye, who died in December, "worked so hard to get the full funding grant agreement in place." Charlotte, N.C., Mayor Anthony Fox, the new transportation secretary, has given his assurance that he will continue a federal funding of $1.55 billion promised for the $5.26 billion rail project. Most of the cost is being covered by Oahu’s general excise tax surcharge.

Construction of the project is planned to resume this fall — so Hawaii’s current quartet in Congress must see that federal dollars keep coming.

Duckworth puts the hurt on CEO

If you haven’t already seen the viral video of U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth shaming an Internal Revenue Service contractor for a dubious military disability claim, check it out.

Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran who lost both her legs in combat, mocked Strong Castle CEO Braulio Castillo for using a foot injury sustained playing football at a military prep school to claim a disabled veteran’s benefit, which gave his company an advantage in bidding for government contracts.

"My feet hurt too," Duckworth said. "In fact, the balls of my feet hurt continuously. So I can understand and … I’m so sorry that twisting your ankle in high school has now come to hurt you in such a painful way."

Finally, the University of Hawaii and McKinley High School graduate states: "Shame on you." Way to go, congresswoman. It’s posted on staradvertiser.com or via http://bit.ly/15OJxOS.