Mink discloses
her role in ‘Traffic’

She made $1,000, but her part
ended up on the cutting room floor

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Richard Borreca
rborreca@starbulletin.com

There was Hawaii's U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink, sitting next to actor Michael Douglas, lecturing about fighting drugs and drug smuggling; they were both acting, but only Douglas' performance survived the cut.

So instead of being written up in Variety along with U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D, Calif.), who did make it into the final version of the Academy Award-winning movie "Traffic," Mink's notice was filed with the clerk of the U.S. House in her annual financial disclosure statement: "'Traffic,' a cameo nonappearance, $1,000."

"The studio sent over tickets, and I gave them to my staff and told them to see if I was in it," Mink said. "They never saw me but the part was fun anyway."

Mink noted, however, that she is the ranking Democrat on the government reform and drug policy subcommittee and last year toured Colombia and eight other countries to learn about illegal drug operations.

The movie "Traffic" featured Michael Douglas, Dennis Quaid and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

In her disclosure statement, Mink also listed that she is the honorary and uncompensated vice president of Americans for Democratic Action.

Mink also listed retirement investments with Dean Witter, Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch on her form.

And like all the other members of the Hawaii delegation, Mink listed income from the Hawaii state retirement system, earned when she was in the Hawaii Legislature and Honolulu City Council.

While Mink listed $10,000 in retirement, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka reported getting $12,885 in state pension funds from his time as a state Department of Education official.

He also listed the "Akaka Family estate-savings accounts and real estate in Hawaii valued at between $100,000 and $250,000."

He also listed a condominium in Alexandria, Va., valued at between $100,000 and $250,000.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye reported his major assets as stock in CPB Inc., worth between $250,000 and $500,000, Suntrust bank accounts worth between $250,000 and $500,000, and a certificate of deposit valued at between $50,000 and $100,000.

The value of Inouye's state pension was $1,122.

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie had a state pension worth $24,361.

He also reported accounts with the University of Hawaii Credit Union worth between $50,000 and 100,000, and a co-operative apartment in Makiki worth between $100,000 and $250,000.

Abercrombie listed travel paid for by others, including Gary Galiher Asbestos Litigation Seminar for a trip from Honolulu to Maui and back.

The California Association of Letter Carriers paid for a trip from Washington to San Francisco to Honolulu.

The Glassmolders, Pottery and Plastic Union paid for a trip from Honolulu to Las Vegas to Honolulu.

The Washington State Labor Council paid for a trip from Los Angeles to Seattle to Los Angeles.

The International Association of Machinists paid for a trip from Washington to San Francisco.

And the Graphics Communicators International paid for the return from San Francisco to Las Vegas to Washington.