Demagogue

Here's a pretty shameful misuse of governement funds in Hawaii:

State legislators are questioning whether $1 million originally intended for anti-poverty programs was properly spent in an anti-drug and alcohol abuse publicity campaign being run out of Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona's office.

But the Lingle administration contends federal funding guidelines allow the money to be used for the anti-drug campaign, which features decathlete Bryan Clay, singer Jasmine Trias and surfer Bethany Hamilton.

At a Senate Ways and Means hearing last week, Lillian Koller, state human services director, defended how her department spends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds, which are primarily used for federal assistance to the poor.

[edit]

Koller defended the campaign, saying it was considered "a good way to get people out of poverty."