Undaunted by recent criticism, Democratic U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka is reintroducing a bill that would grant native Hawaiians tribal status, including the same tax exemptions currently enjoyed by Indian reservations and native Alaskan communities.
When it reconvenes in June, the U.S. Senate is expected to vote on a petition for cloture, which would end all debate and bring about final voting on the six-year-old bill, SB 147, the "Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act."
Early last month, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights publicly criticized Akaka's bill, arguing that native Hawaiians don't meet the federal definition of a tribe.
"I am concerned that the Akaka bill would authorize a government entity to treat people differently based on their race and ethnicity," said Gerald A. Reynolds, chairman of the commission, which published a report on the proposed legislation May 4.
In response to the report, Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle, a Republican, sent letters to all 55 Republican U.S. senators, as well as one independent, noting that the proposed legislation has been revised.
"The amended version that will be offered by Sen. Akaka, based on negotiations last summer with the administration, will not allow native Hawaiian gambling in Hawaii, will not allow any denial of civil rights, will not lead to secession (the very idea is nonsense), and will not result in any other negative consequences for Hawaii," she wrote last month.
Lingle will meet with senators in Washington to discuss the issues on June 5 and 6, two days before the Senate's anticipated cloture vote on the Akaka bill.
