The Worst Bill You Never Heard Of

Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) has introduced the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2005, which would allow native Hawaiians to self-government. Under the bill, native Hawaiians would be designated a "tribe" under the Indian law system and would constitute approximately 20% of the population.

This would be the first time in our nation's history that we have created an extra-constitutional race-based government out of a group of American citizens. Moreover, were this bill to become law, this new race-based government would be allowed to deny its constituents the protections afforded by the 1st, 5th and 14th Constitutional Amendments because they would not apply to the new "tribal government."

This is all about money. Hawaii is one of the most heavily taxed states in the nation and it sees the economic advantages of Indian tribes that don't pay federal taxes. By allowing a self-government, Hawaii would let a huge part of its population avoid paying taxes, while still likely receiving a healthy stipend from the U.S. government.