News release from Hawaii Republican Party October 14, 2014

Senator David Ige's record of supporting tax and fee hikes in the state with the highest cost of living continues to be a problem for him. After he promised voters unambiguously he would oppose raising their taxes, he pushed a measure to raise Hawaii's burdensome general excise tax 25% higher, among others.

Senator Ige has made his stewardship of Hawaii's budget a central theme to his campaign, but all too often he has done so on the backs of Hawaii taxpayers.

In fact, 2011 was not the only time he has pushed a measure that would raise general excise taxes in Hawaii, which affects everything from groceries to medicine and clothes that families need to buy.

Just last year, Senator Ige sponsored a bill that would have raided county Transit Accommodations Tax funds, and essentially forced counties to raise excise taxes on Hawaii families and small businesses up to 1% higher to make up for the lost funds.

"Senator Ige has demonstrated time and time again that his policies would make Hawaii's high cost of living even worse, putting him at odds with middle-class families trying to get by. Hawaii clearly needs a new approach where reducing the cost of living is finally the top priority, not more broken promises and raising taxes even further." --Hawaii Republican Party Communications Advisor Ted Kwong