After telling constituents to stay home, not travel interstate, and quarantine on return if they do, 100 lawmakers and lobbyists convened today at a Maui luxury hotel where rooms start at over $500 per night.
The group included both Democratic and Republican lawmakers from California, Washington, and Texas who were there to discuss reopening strategies during the COVID crisis. This news is juxtaposed with yesterday’s announcement where California, Washington, and Oregon governors joined in telling residents to avoid out-of-state travel, including to Hawaii. It seems at least that what’s good for the goose should be good for the gander, but perhaps not when politics are concerned.
So said regular Richard C. whose comment first gave us the heads up. “From you can’t make this stuff up. Currently, there’s a conference going on at the Maui Fairmont attended by the State of California legislators. Here they’re discouraging travel to Hawaii, yet there they are enjoying Maui. To be fair both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are attending this conference. Another example of the rules don’t apply to politicians.”
Held at the beautiful Kea Lani Resort (pictured above) where rates this week begin at over $500 a night, the conference was organized by the San Diego based Independent Voter Project. Its executive director said he also wasn’t worried about the public health implications of bringing attendees from throughout the US, due to Hawaii’s mandatory testing program. He said, “It really doesn’t matter where you’re coming from as long as you have a negative Covid test before you arrive here.”
As we’ve seen in the severe recent runup of cases here in Hawaii, tests are merely a snapshot in time and do not indicate, for example, if you may have been exposed to but not yet developed COVID to the degree necessary to test positive.
In order for the event to be permitted, organizers requested and obtained special permission from Maui County for a group larger than 12 people to convene. The organizer said, “At some point in time, you have to figure out a way for people to get back to some semblance of a normal life. This is a good conference.”
Your take, please?
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DaveR says
As Leona Helmsely said about taxes, rules are for little people. (That’s us.)
Heather M. says
Mahalo,
I am appalled at All of these government “officials” actions. I live in Cali and they have moved us back to the purple tier which raises my concern and anxiety. But, now that I see politicians do whatever they want (conference on the islands, flying) I guess I’ll do whatever feels right to me…do as the do.
Part of local news story:
by: Ashley Zavala
Posted: Nov 17, 2020 / 06:11 PM PST / Updated: Nov 17, 2020 / 06:11 PM PST
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KRON) – At least two California lawmakers are in Maui for a legislative conference.
The trip comes as state leaders put a recommended 14-day quarantine in place last week to discourage travel and urged Californians not to gather ahead of the holidays.
Multiple members of the California Assembly are in Maui for the Annual Independent Voter Project Conference.
An eyewitness source tells us they saw Democratic Assemblyman Jim Cooper on the island.
Cooper told our source he was in town for a conference, staying at the same hotel hosting the independent voter project’s event.
Another Democratic Assemblymember Blanca Rubio is also at the conference, she is the only California lawmaker who allowed the event organizer to reveal her participation there.
Recent finance reports show Republican Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham bought plane tickets for a flight to Hawaii that arrived Monday.
We contacted the offices of nine legislators who went to the conference last year. One confirmed their assemblyman was not there, and have yet to hear back from the other eight, including the offices of Cooper, Cunningham, and Rubio.
The five-day conference is bringing together about 150 people this week, 20 of them lawmakers from Texas, Washington, and California, according to the event organizer.
The event mainly features policy discussions and mingling with lobbyists and corporate sponsors.
This comes just days after California leaders discouraged travel by issuing a 14-day quarantine recommendation for anyone coming into the state
Bob B. says
This BS and here in Albuquerque we went from a “Stay at home” order a week ago to yesterdays emergency shelter in place order (came across the TV and Cellphones etc) from the Governor, this due to an over 2000 new cases in one day, we’ve been averaging 1000+ per day until then. Over 800 hospitalized, and the University Med Center where my daughter is a physician and a COVID team leader is over capacity and being overwhelmed!
Colorado is in worse shape!
I haven’t heard if anyone from New Mexico is in Maui, I hope they have more sense then the other people do.
Be like Newson break his own rules for everyone else, do as I say not as I do and when you get caught you just say “I made a mistake” and everyone forgives and forgets by the time the next election comes around. Very sad CA residents let him get away with this.
DaveR says
As the article made it very clear, it’s not just Newsome and it’s both Repubs and Dems.
Chris O. says
What Washington state legislatures attend this conference
Doug J says
I would like to know who from WA went too
Bob B. says
Typical Commiefornia crap, plenty of places in Calif for a conference, humm gee, Lake Tahoe would be a great place and little to no air fair, less expensive hotels etc, won’t support their local economy.
Due to health issues I’ll probably never make it back to HI, and I miss seeing and working with my HI nurse BFF’s.
Bless you all, stay safe, take care!
DaveR says
“Commiefornia”…hmm.
So those GOP lawmakers who went are communists?