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Mr. Robinson: Madame Chair if I may. I agree with Mr. Adams that it's <br /> really clear that there's no exceptions provided. There's no <br /> exceptions provided it's hard to surf that fine line as to <br /> okay is this good but this isn't good. So how do you do <br /> that? I don't think you can, I think we have to follow the <br /> rules specifically. <br /> Mr. Adams: And if I might. I'm not saying that you can't accept, I'm <br /> not saying that an officer or employee of the County can't <br /> accept a recognition in this case you know Legislator of the <br /> Year or whatever is provided. That's not my issue here. <br /> That reward has no pecuniary value, it's reflective of work <br /> that's been done, but I agree it has to do with the legislative <br /> performance. My concern has strictly to do with the fare, <br /> the travel. The travel itself is a gift. It's clear in anything <br /> that you look at...you can look at what we did last meeting <br /> with Councilman Paleka. We identified it as a gift. Now <br /> we declared that there was an exception there because the <br /> performance of official duties and a benefit to the County. <br /> Right. That to me is how this becomes different. <br /> That's....I'm not happy about it, but I don't see a way <br /> around it at least for me. <br /> Mr. Goodenow: Madame Chair. Two thoughts on that. I mean if we agree <br /> that being legislator of the year is not a reward. Right in <br /> and of itself that's not the problem. The only issue is <br /> whether the travel expense associated with the award is a <br /> gift. I think we should look at it not...it's not the award <br /> itself...it's only a travel expense. I don't see how you <br /> could characterize that as a gift. I don't think you really <br /> need an exception because it's not a gift. Going to <br /> Honolulu to accept the award is no gift in my opinion. <br /> Secondly, I think if you...we could say that in this case <br /> there is value to the County, because the policy of our <br /> County whether you agree with it or not is to be a healthy <br /> State, healthy County. It's getting the word out that we <br /> don't want...I guess I mean not that I agree with it. I like <br /> my cigars too by the way. I gotta visit your store. I mean <br /> there is that component of doing official work in that <br /> capacity. It would be like...I mean same as GMO...right. <br /> You go there, you meet other people during the event and <br /> you talk about the policy. The whole point of having a <br /> Legislator of the Year award is actually PR for the Tobacco <br /> Free Hawai`i in a sense. I mean that's part of it. To bring <br /> awareness to their cause and this is a cause that he supports <br /> in his legislative function in that sense. I just think it's he's <br /> 15 <br />