COUNCILMEMBER DJOU: "TYPICAL DISGUSTING CITY HALL POLITICS"
Councilmember Charles K. Djou (Waikiki, East Honolulu) reacted to the Honolulu City Council's flip flop today on Bill 51 related to the creation of a homeowners' property tax class and the private deals between the mayor and selected council members.
"Creating a new homeowners classification is bad policy that will lead to higher taxes for everyone. The City Council's behavior today, however, is simply terrible and perfectly shows why the average resident has such little respect for City Hall. After voting to reject establishment of a homeowners' class, several council members were called off the floor to be read the riot act by the mayor. Then after cutting their respective insider deals with the mayor, the city council flipped its vote to approve Bill 51 just hours later," stated Councilmember Djou. "Today’s vote is so typical of so many Honolulu Hale politicians. Council members Apo and Okino will vote one way in the morning with the media present and then after cutting their private deals with the mayor the totally opposite way in the dead of night."
This morning the City Council voted not to advance Bill 51 relating to a homeowners tax class. After the vote, Mayor Mufi Hannemann hauled Council Chair Todd Apo into his office for several hours. Late this evening, after all media had left the building, Apo, along with Councilmember Gary Okino, suddenly reversed their votes and voted to pass Bill 51. Councilmember Apo had consistently been a leading opponent of establishing a homeowner tax class since it was first proposed last year.
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BACKDOOR DEALINGS AND FLIP-FLOPPING TARGET HAWAI'I’S RESIDENTS
Yesterday’s Honolulu City Council reversal of a vote on a new tax category for homeowners raised a red flag on the integrity of today’s politicians.
Is this the kind of leadership we can expect from Mufi Hannemann when he seeks higher office? And what about Chair Todd Apo who flip-flopped his vote under pressure? I cannot imagine what kind of backdoor deal was made to persuade these Democrat Party players to switch their vote within a matter of hours.
Councilmember Charles Djou is right-- this was simply a Trojan horse to raise taxes.
Senate President Colleen Hanabusa’s now infamous words, “people in Hawai'i are used to higher taxes,” sum up the Democrat sentiments. Raise taxes and expand government. With last night’s Council vote, the people of Hawai'i have a clear picture of Democrats’ irresponsible fiscal intentions.
Jonah Ka'auwai
State Chairman
Hawai'i Republican Party
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