United States Senator Daniel Inouye has been a strong supporter of the Honolulu Rail Project and has promised that he would be able to help secure $1.55 billion in federal funding to help pay for the $5.27 billion project. Former Governor Ben Cayetano is running for Honolulu Mayor, and is strongly against the Honolulu Rail Project. During a recent debate with other Mayor hopefuls, Cayetano stated that Inouye was “out of touch” with the issues of the Honolulu rail project.
Inouye stated, “I was deeply offended by the statements and negative tactics attributed to Gov. Cayetano. The race for Honolulu mayor should be about the issues facing our city, and in these serious times there is no need for personal attacks.”
Cayetano responded by saying, “Senator Inouye is up at the 30,000-foot level dealing with national and international affairs. The senator should take time to go down to McDonald’s and talk to the retirees who go there to eat breakfast because it’s cheap. He’s out of touch, as far as I’m concerned. I respect Senator Inouye. He’s done a lot for our country and for our state, but we shouldn’t defer to him.”
Cayetano has public stated that he believes that the Honolulu Rail System will cost closer to $7 billion then the $5.27 billion that is currently projected. Cayetano questions how the city will make up that money and has pointed out that Senator Inouye stated that the only thing that will stop the rail project is “World War III.”
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 5-4-2012, www.staradvertiser.com
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