Lawmakers: Akaka Bill ‘as good as dead’

Congressional insiders say that the so-called Akaka Bill is as good as dead.

A long-sought federal law allowing native Hawaiians to form their own government stands little chance of passing Congress before year’s end, and its approval may be even less likely after a Republican House majority takes office in January.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, for whom the legislation is named, said he will push to pass the bill during the Senate’s lame-duck session starting Monday, but the chamber also will be busy with tax-cut extensions and a stopgap spending measure to keep the government running.

Similar sentiments were expressed by U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye and Congressman Charles Djou, a Republican who favors the bill.