Can you believe they're still stubbornly holding on to those raises?! Even now?!

All the news coming out of the state Capitol has been about raising taxes, cutting programs, and now laying off hundreds of state workers because, gosh darn it, they just don't have any money, but the legislators still haven't seen fit to undo the substantial raises they all got starting in January.

Oh sure, there have been small gestures and meek overtures: a proposal to freeze their pay AT THE NEW LEVEL and forgo previously scheduled future raises for the next two years.

But they're still keeping the 36 percent.

Another proposal, which got little support, would have legislators take a 5 percent pay cut. That's not going to happen, but even if it did, each lawmaker would still end up thousands of dollars ahead this year.

They may be the only people in Hawai'i getting ahead right now — them and the Hawaiian Telcom execs. The rest of us are scrambling to hold on.

The country is in an uproar over AIG's outlandish bonuses, paid for by federal government rescue money. This is not a time in America for greed at the expense of taxpayers.

And still, Hawai'i legislators are keeping their raises of $12,800 each. Some are getting more.

Meanwhile, they're talking about cutting general assistance benefits to 5,000 disabled Hawai'i residents by 50 percent.

The state House proposed cutting 374 state jobs, something even Gov. Linda Lingle said she wasn't going to do. All those people facing unemployment when there are so few companies hiring. Maybe the folks who lost jobs should all run for office next year since the current bunch doesn't seem to know what it's like in the real world.

How are we supposed to believe legislators are working in our best interests when they are looking out for their own best interests?

How can they look us in the eye and say they did their best for us during these awful days of layoffs and businesses shutting down, of carefully planned retirement accounts lost in the blink of an eye and college savings plans washed away?

Like the AIG execs, they should give that money back. Like the AIG execs, they should have to feel the heat of our outrage. Like the AIG execs, they should be ashamed of themselves.

If any legislator is looking to raise his or her profile and win the hearts and votes of Hawai'i people, that person should stand up right now and make this right. The first legislator who gives back that raise would be a hero, and it would be worth more than money in the next election. But do any of them have the guts?

No, but they have our money.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.