Hawaii Democrat hasn’t been to DC in months, still working as airline pilot

A congressman who ran on a promise of giving constituents full-time illustration has been absent from the Capitol for many of this 12 months, in response to a brand new report. 

Rep. Kai Kahele, D-Hawaii, has not often proven up for work in Washington D.C. this 12 months, solely casting 5 votes in individual over the course of three days in January, in response to an evaluation from the Honolulu Civil Beat. 

The remainder of his 120 votes had been forged by proxy, which implies a colleague voted on his behalf whereas he stayed again in Hawaii. 

Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has permitted proxy voting for the reason that begin of the pandemic, whereas in-person voting remains to be required within the Senate. 

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Kahele, a fight veteran, apparently by no means gave up his job as a Hawaiian Airways pilot the place, in response to the Civil Beat, he earned $120,000 in 2020, the 12 months he was elected to Congress. His wage as a member of congress is $174,000. 

His failure to indicate up for work in Congress has coincided with Kahele reportedly mulling a run for governor in 2022, although he has not made any formal announcement. 

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Neither Kahele nor his spokesperson responded to Fox Information’ requests for feedback on Tuesday. 

Rep.-elect Kai Kahele of Hawaii’s Second Congressional District arrives in Washington for congressional orientation in November 2020. (Marisa Schultz/Fox Information)
(Marisa Schultz/Fox Information)

His absence from Washington is a pointy flip for Kahele who entered Congress in 2021 with acknowledged intentions of transferring his spouse and three daughters to D.C. to keep away from the grueling 13-hour commute each week from his hometown of Hilo.

Throughout an interview with Fox Information throughout freshman orientation in late 2020, Kahele mentioned he envisioned internet hosting barbecues, going to church and enjoying baseball with fellow lawmakers within the hope that friendships may give technique to bipartisanship. 

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“I’ve at all times had the power to deliver folks collectively,” Kahele mentioned of his intentions of constructing relationships in D.C.

The freshman lawmaker succeeded Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, in Congress. He was a state senator when he introduced he’d main problem the favored Gabbard simply after she introduced her 2020 presidential run. Kahele mentioned the folks of Hawaii wanted full-time illustration. 

Kai Kahele, D-Hawaii, along with his spouse Maria and their three daughters. 
(Courtesy of Kai Kahele for Congress)

Kahele has voted by proxy greater than most of his Home colleagues this 12 months, in response to the Civil Beat, being absent for all however 5 votes. Probably the most absent members of Congress had been Democratic Reps. Albio Sires of New Jersey, Lucille Roybal-Allard of California and Al Lawson of Florida, who’ve missed each vote within the Home in 2022.

Kahele made historical past in 2020 as simply the second Native Hawaiian elected to Congress to characterize the Aloha State because it grew to become the fiftieth state in 1959. He is a former state senator and navy pilot fight veteran. He is a progressive who helps the Inexperienced New Deal and “Medicare-for-all.”