2008 Woodie Awards
Letter to the Editor: Caldwell should apologize for comments
Lenny Klompus
Issue date: 1/17/08 Section: Commentary
Members of the public expect our elected officials to be responsible and to lead by example.
Unfortunately, Rep. Kirk Caldwell, the House majority leader, failed miserably on both counts by doing the ultimate disservice to the important problem of pedestrian safety in our state by using tragic pedestrian casualties to serve his own political agenda.
In a recent Associated Press article on funding for projects including pedestrian safety, Kirk Caldwell says, "Since (Governor Linda Lingle) has failed to release the money, we've had several other senior citizens die. There is an issue of blood on someone's hands."
This is a despicable statement on a couple of different levels. For one, it politicizes an issue that shouldn't be politicized. Caldwell should be ashamed for twisting the unfortunate instance of pedestrian casualties to serve his own selfish purpose.
Second, it clouds the underlying issue. The governor supports using $3 million to make important pedestrian safety improvements and testified in person to advocate for the appropriation. However, the Legislature changed the funding source to have the appropriation come from the State Highway Fund instead of the General Fund. This is not responsible fiscal management, as the State Highway Fund receives federal money (4 to 1) for critical road projects throughout the state.
The governor asked the Legislature to change the funding source back to the originally proposed General Fund, but legislators refused. Instead of making this simple adjustment, legislators closed the door on collaboration and senselessly squandered an easy fix.
Attempting to score cheap political points through the use of human tragedy is absolutely disgusting, and Caldwell should be ashamed of himself and should apologize to the families of the victims.
Lenny Klompus
Senior communications adviser
Office of the Governor
Unfortunately, Rep. Kirk Caldwell, the House majority leader, failed miserably on both counts by doing the ultimate disservice to the important problem of pedestrian safety in our state by using tragic pedestrian casualties to serve his own political agenda.
In a recent Associated Press article on funding for projects including pedestrian safety, Kirk Caldwell says, "Since (Governor Linda Lingle) has failed to release the money, we've had several other senior citizens die. There is an issue of blood on someone's hands."
This is a despicable statement on a couple of different levels. For one, it politicizes an issue that shouldn't be politicized. Caldwell should be ashamed for twisting the unfortunate instance of pedestrian casualties to serve his own selfish purpose.
Second, it clouds the underlying issue. The governor supports using $3 million to make important pedestrian safety improvements and testified in person to advocate for the appropriation. However, the Legislature changed the funding source to have the appropriation come from the State Highway Fund instead of the General Fund. This is not responsible fiscal management, as the State Highway Fund receives federal money (4 to 1) for critical road projects throughout the state.
The governor asked the Legislature to change the funding source back to the originally proposed General Fund, but legislators refused. Instead of making this simple adjustment, legislators closed the door on collaboration and senselessly squandered an easy fix.
Attempting to score cheap political points through the use of human tragedy is absolutely disgusting, and Caldwell should be ashamed of himself and should apologize to the families of the victims.
Lenny Klompus
Senior communications adviser
Office of the Governor
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