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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Watchdog groups criticize Hawaii spending in annual 'pork report'


Associated Press

ON THE WEB

Grassroot Institute: www.grassrootinstitute.org/

Citizens Against Government Waste: www.cagw.org/newsroom/releases/2010/hawaii-grassroot-institute.html

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HONOLULU — Two watchdog groups are criticizing what they consider "pork-barrel" spending by state and city governments in Hawaii.

The nonprofit groups, The Grassroot Institute and Citizens Against Government Waste, released their second annual "Hawaii Pork Report" on Wednesday.

The study targets several instances of state and local spending on schools, transportation, parks and other government programs.

It takes particular aim at marketing and public relations expenses for Honolulu's proposed rail transit project.

The report also cites a $99,500 settlement with a Big Island woman who was injured in a 2006 traffic accident involving then-Mayor Harry Kim, and a $112,200 loss the state suffered from an ill-fated Chinese technology park.