Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Hempey Files Complaint Against Rep. Hanabusa


Kauai attorney Dan Hempey has filed a federal Elections Commission complaint against Rep. Colleen Hanabusa over possible links between her campaign and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) lobby.

The complaint stems from a Washington Post article that published communications between Hanabusa’s staff and campaign detailing PhRMA's plans to “pull together” an independent expenditure on her behalf, which is prohibited by both federal elections law and the House of Representatives Code of Official Conduct.

The communication occurred when the House was deliberating a bill about how much elderly citizens should pay for their medications.

“I was shocked to learn that the Hanabusa campaign appeared to be actively coordinating with those same corporations that would profit from her position, to the detriment of some of our most vulnerable
citizens,” Hempey said in a news release.

He called for a thorough investigation. “These issues are too important for us to be worrying about whether legislative decision making is infected by big money.”

Hanabusa recently announced plans to abandon the Congressional seat she won just last year to run against Brian Schatz, who was named by Gov. Abercrombie to fill the late Sen. Dan Inouye's seat. 

Kauai residents may know her better as presiding over the state Senate when the Legislature held a special session to exempt the Hawaii Superferry from the state EIS process.

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Go get her Hempey!

Anonymous said...

Hanabusa also represented Jimmy Pflueger for the grading at Pilaa and then hammered the state a week later (while a state senator) for failing to inspect dams after the Ka Loko Breach. She also co-sponsored the dam safety law. It always seemed shady that she could get away with that.

Joan Conrow said...

Christopher Raymond, the deputy chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa who offered to act as a go-between between Hanabusa's U.S. Senate campaign and the drug industry, has resigned.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/218769211.html?id=218769211&src=em

Anonymous said...

God bless you Dan. Too bad thereʻs only one of you.

Anonymous said...

Rats jumping ship. Thank you, Dan!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

If you all really knew what kind of a person Dan is then I think you all would know he's a Benedict Arnold.

He is like Jake, not good enough to be a good ol boy but always a trick to the powers.

Weren't good enough to be a judge on Kauai but will always get cases because they owe him one or two or three...

Anonymous said...

Ahhhh. We got some green eyed monster stuff goin here.

Dan happens to be someone beyond reproach.

Anonymous said...

To really know Dan is to love him.

Who aspires to be a judge on Kauai?

Anonymous said...

Probably someone that knows theyʻd sink in their own practice.

Anonymous said...

I've had Dan over to the house. He's a good guy and fun to work with. Definitely does not need caffeine.

Anonymous said...

OMG Joan is spear heading Hempey's bid for per diem judge. She definitley has the hots

Anonymous said...

What about the substance of the complaint?

Anonymous said...

That wasn't Joan and who said anything about the law? And have you been to district or family court? Being a per diem judge is truly a public service.

Anonymous said...

I hope Dan doesnʻt go for the bench.

Anonymous said...

You mean the content of the complaint?

Anonymous said...

Hempey craves the spotlight. Remember the hash he made of the superferry case. what a disaster. Luckily Isaac Hall was waiting with the sierra club to save the day! Hempey got sanctioned when he went after Iseri-Carvalho. He ends up looking stupid.

Anonymous said...

Now you're sounding stupid.

Anonymous said...

why not share the press release with us? Is it that embarrassing?

Anonymous said...

Dan "someone beyond reproach", save the idiom for the child molesting catholic priests.

He's no saint! More like a Judas!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like CF throwing dirt. Be grateful Randal took pity on you.

Anonymous said...

CF used to work with Hempey. As far as I'm concerned he's just as bad as Hempey.

Anonymous said...

Anybody can make a complaint to the FEC and send them a newspaper story. Why all the drama? Looks like self promotion.

Anonymous said...

Campaigns are not allowed, under federal law, to coordinate with these PACS. The law allows these huge campaign expenditures only if they are completely independent of the candidate or the campaign.

This is a very important issue concerning the cost of medicine for our seniors. If the Hanabusa (D) campaign is siding with big PharmCo PAC and the Republicans to keep drug prices high for seniors, and there is evidence to show it was being coordinated between the PAC and the Hanabusa campaign, then it should absolutely be investigated.



Anonymous said...

It looks like the deputy chief of staff to Hanabusa resigned right after this complaint was filed.

Anonymous said...

It should absolutely be investigated. Without the complaint I doubt her chief of staff would resign.

Anonymous said...

Yes, it is serious. Poof he was gone from her office as soon as.

Sounds like thereʻs a lot of envy of Dan. In fact, never heard this level of vitriole
before so the comments must be coming from those directly involved or affected.

All I know is I canʻt thank Mr. Hempey enough for recognizing the extent of the wrong and following through with what a good citizen should do.

Anonymous said...

Think Hempey is such a stand up guy? It was him and foster got a bunch of those AG TVRs passed. Bet Joan won't investigate any of those in a million years.

Anonymous said...

OK, Sheilah, get back to work.

Anonymous said...

Yea, I know (not think) Hempey is a stand up guy so if this your route of attack you outta step back.

Anonymous said...

Hempey is in it for the attention. Why else would he make a press release.

Joan Conrow said...

The usual reason press releases are sent out: to alert media so they can cover the issue.

Btw, you might want to let go of that ugly grudge before it makes you sick. Because your cowardly anonymous attacks are not turning anyone against Dan.

Anonymous said...

Good one, Joan!

Anonymous said...

Dan is a righteous man. All too few of us can smell a rat and act on it. If congress is not policing itself who is? The State is too busy to disrupt the status quo why that would upset the whole club (of prostitutes) that pose as legitimate public figures. May G-d bless Dan Hempey!