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House Democrats get help from Cayetano

He may be out of office, but he isn't out of politics.

State House Democrats held an invitation-only fund-raiser last month at former Gov. Ben Cayetano's new Waialae Iki home.

House Speaker Calvin Say said a political action committee formed to help raise money for Democratic House members, dubbed the Committee for Responsive Government, didn't sell tickets for a specific amount, but simply asked for donations.

The Democratic Party, Say added, was looking to its three former standard bearers, Govs. George Ariyoshi, John Waihee and Cayetano, to help with fund raising for the 2004 election.

Republicans in the state House have had their own political action committee, House GOP PAC, since 1995 and were able to give $500 to each GOP house candidate last year.

Ariyoshi and Waihee plan Hapuna speeches

Former Govs. George Ariyoshi and John Waihee will address the Hawaii State Association of Counties at its midyear conference at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel Dec. 4-5.

Ariyoshi is president of Prince Resorts Hawaii Inc.

Waihee recently organized his own law firm in partnership with Renton Nip.

Other scheduled speakers for the two-day conference include U.S. Rep. Ed Case and political commentator and MidWeek columnist Dan Boylan.

Registration is $185. For more information, call 961-8386 or e-mail eyamamoto@co.hawaii. hi.us.

Bill raises aid to offset Micronesian influx

The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation last week that would double federal aid to Hawaii and U.S. Pacific territories to offset the cost of services to migrants from the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia.

The measure heads to the White House for President Bush's signature.

The U.S. Senate passed the bill earlier this month, which extends the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the territories.

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie thanked his colleagues for their bipartisan support of the House Joint Resolution.

"Clearly, Hawaii and our sister territories deserve a much higher level of Compact impact aid, but this legislation is a huge step forward," he said.

Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands split $15 million a year to partially offset the cost for education, health and human services they provide to migrants.

Hawaii received $3 million for fiscal year 2003. The state spent $32 million for services to migrants from the Pacific territories in calendar year 2002 and more than $140 million since 1997.

Bill headed for Bush helps Filipino veterans

Headed to the president for consideration is legislation to increase benefits for certain Filipino World War II veterans and extend other programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 increases VA benefits paid to Filipino veterans and their survivors who live in the United States to the same rate paid to U.S. veterans. They now receive half the level.

The measure also makes New Philippine Scouts who fought for the United States in World War II and who are now living in the United States eligible for burial in VA national cemeteries.

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